[Prognostic significance of early management as exemplified by the accident patient].

Progress in the therapeutic management of multiple trauma patients has led to a decline in mortality (now 20%). The main cause for death is still the multiple organ failure (MOF), which is initiated in an early phase after trauma by shock and tissue damage, and manifests in a late phase during posttraumatic sepsis. Humoral and cellular changes accelerate the capillary damage, which provokes the failure of the organ systems. For this reason all therapeutic efforts should aim to minimize these influences. Next to infusion and ventilation therapy, early definite reduction of bleeding and tissue damage (debridement) and early osteosynthesis in multiple trauma patients seems reasonable.