(i) Assessment—principles and management of major trauma beyond ATLS ®

Polytrauma must be considered as a surgical systemic disease. Thus, successful management requires solid pathophysiological understanding, complete resuscitation, correct triage and timing and well-negotiated titration of care. Algorithms should attempt to optimize patients' physiological state prior to non-life-saving surgery and provide procedures which are intentionally safe, simple, quick and well executed. Primary objective is survival of the patient. Early fixation of major fractures - performed with the right concept - is proven as an important tool to gain the primary objective.