Research Article

The Effect of a Multidisciplinary Trauma Team Leader Paradigm at a Tertiary Trauma Center: 10-Year Experience

Table 2

MGH trauma activation criteria.

Urgent trauma team activationNonurgent trauma team activation

Need for airway management (with significant mechanism or difficult airway)Traumatic intracranial bleed or basilar skull fracture

Systolic BP < 90 in the EDGCS < 10 in the ED (excluding MVC mechanism)

Penetrating injury to the head, neck, or trunkEvidence of spinal cord injury

Mangled extremity or amputation above wrist or ankleUnstable spinal cord injury

Need for blood transfusion in the resuscitation bayWide mediastinum with a significant mechanism of injury

ParalysisBlunt abdominal trauma with tenderness

Burn >20% body surface areaSignificant injury to a single system:
(i) Solid organ injury on CT scan
(ii) Flail chest or multiple rib fractures

Trauma transfer accepted by TTL (at their discretion)Injuries to two or more body regions

ED physician may activate the trauma team at their discretionPelvic fractures
(i) Based on their initial assessment
(ii) If they are unable to attend to the trauma patient due to increased workload in the resuscitation bay

Femoral fractures (except isolated hip fractures)
Proximal extremity gunshot wounds
Pregnant trauma patient at >20 weeks’ gestational age
Thoracoabdominal injury with an expected need for admission
ED physician may also consult the trauma team at their discretion