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In patients who have severe injuries to at least two body regions or a combination of one body cavity with long bone fracture (multi-injury trauma), treatments are staged.

• Stage 1: Securing airway and ensuring adequate oxygenation

  Table 17-2 Example of the ISS Calculation

• Stage 2: Immediate surgery addressing both internal injuries/control bleeding and open fractures stabilized by placement of external fixation
• Stage 3: Stabilize vital signs and complete further diagnostic evaluations (this stage continues from hours to 2 days)
• Stage 4: Internal fixation of fractures and other nonemergent surgeries completed

Therefore, multi-injury trauma patients are frequently returning to the perianesthesia area as their condition improves to have lower severity surgeries completed.