Traumatology is the study of wound

Wound

A wound is a type of injury in which skin is torn, cut or punctured , or where blunt force trauma causes a contusion . In pathology, it specifically refers to a sharp injury which damages the dermis of the skin.-Open:...

s and injuries

Injury

-By cause:*Traumatic injury, a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident*Other injuries from external physical causes, such as radiation injury, burn injury or frostbite*Injury from infection...

 caused by accident

Accident

An accident or mishap is an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance, often with lack of intention or necessity. It implies a generally negative outcome which may have been avoided or prevented had circumstances leading up to the accident been recognized, and acted upon, prior to its...

s or violence

Violence

Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...

 to a person, and the surgical therapy

Trauma surgery

Trauma surgery is a surgical specialty involved in the invasive treatment of physical injuries, typically in an emergency setting. Trauma surgeons generally complete residency training in general surgery and often fellowship training in trauma or surgical critical care...

 and repair of the damage. Traumatology is a branch of medicine

Medicine

Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....

. It is often considered a subset of surgery

Surgery

Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...

 and in countries without the specialty of trauma surgery

Trauma surgery

Trauma surgery is a surgical specialty involved in the invasive treatment of physical injuries, typically in an emergency setting. Trauma surgeons generally complete residency training in general surgery and often fellowship training in trauma or surgical critical care...

 it is most often a sub-specialty to orthopedic surgery

Orthopedic surgery

Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system...

. Traumatology may also be known as accident surgery.

Factors in the assessment of wounds are:

• the nature of the wound, whether it is a laceration, abrasion, bruise or burn
• the size of the wound in length, width and depth
• the extent of the overall area of tissue damage caused by the impact of a mechanical force, or the reaction to chemical agents in, for example, fires or exposure to caustic substances.

Forensic physicians, as well as pathologists may also be required to examine (traumatic

Trauma (medicine)

Trauma refers to "a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident." It can also be described as "a physical wound or injury, such as a fracture or blow." Major trauma can result in secondary complications such as circulatory shock, respiratory failure and death...

) wounds on people.

The International Journal of Traumatology

The field of trauma research and practice focusing on psychological trauma has also been called Traumatic Stress Studies and Psychotraumatology. The first use of traumatology as a field representing this broader psychosocial meaning was published in Helping the Hurt Child.

Traumatology can also refer to the study, development and application of psychological and counseling services for people who have experienced extreme events.

External links

• Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma
• European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology
• Journal of Injury and Violence Research
• Trauma.org (trauma resources for medical professionals)