Major trauma or polytrauma refers to severe injury involving multiple body systems, resulting in life-threatening physiological instability and requiring immediate ICU admission. These injuries commonly result from road traffic accidents, falls from height, industrial incidents, or violence. Polytrauma is a leading cause of death in young adults and demands rapid, coordinated critical care to prevent secondary injury and improve survival.

Patients with major trauma often present with a combination of hemorrhage, head injury, chest trauma, abdominal injury, and fractures. Hemodynamic instability due to blood loss, hypoxia from lung injury, and neurological impairment are common. The body’s inflammatory response to trauma can further exacerbate organ dysfunction, making early ICU care essential.

ICU management focuses on damage control resuscitation, stabilization of vital functions, and prevention of secondary injury. This includes airway protection, oxygenation, control of bleeding, and maintenance of circulation. Continuous monitoring allows early detection of deterioration and guides intervention.

Trauma patients frequently require mechanical ventilation, massive transfusion protocols, invasive monitoring, and surgical or interventional procedures. Multidisciplinary coordination between intensivists, surgeons, emergency physicians, and rehabilitation teams is critical.

Recovery from polytrauma is often prolonged and may involve long ICU stays, repeated surgeries, and rehabilitation. Early ICU intervention significantly improves survival and functional outcomes.