Treatment of the polytraumatized patient in the United Kingdom.

Studies of the incidence and management of trauma in the United Kingdom have shown a decline in the numbers of seriously injured patients as a result of tougher government legislation. Great Britain now has fewer fatalities from road accidents than most countries. This has been achieved, however, despite an inadequate trauma system. Current studies suggest that the best British trauma units are gaining results which are equivalent to those of average trauma centers in the United States, and there seems no doubt that greater resources and improved organization are required if these results are to be improved.