Initial Resuscitation of a Multisystem Trauma Patient Following a Fall From Height: A Complete Simulation Scenario for Medical Students

Cureus. 2021 Jan 30;13(1):e13013. doi: 10.7759/cureus.13013.

Abstract

Management of a complex trauma patient is a critical skill for medical students, particularly during a general surgery or emergency medicine clerkship. However, gaining proficiency with this skillset may be challenging without prior medical or simulation experience. The aim of this technical report is to present a comprehensive high-fidelity medical simulation of a polytraumatized patient with numerous injuries sustained from a 20-foot fall. As the scenario unfolds, students identify multisystem injuries including acute hemorrhage, femur fracture, tension pneumothorax, and traumatic brain injury. The case was designed as an assessment tool to evaluate the knowledge of preclinical medical students obtained through a one-day workshop on the primary survey. This technical report provides simulation designers with a premade script, flowchart, labs, images, and supplies needed to successfully recreate the case.

Keywords: emergency medicine resuscitation; femur and fracture; life-threatening bleeding; medical education; pneumothorax (ptx); simulation design; simulation in medical education; trauma management; traumatic injury.