The Trauma Center

The Trauma center at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center (WFBMC) is a level I, American College of Surgeons approved, trauma facility. Our trauma center has a wide referral base covering Eastern Tennessee, Southern Virginia and all of North Carolina.

As Plastic and Reconstructive surgeons, we are able to offer the highest quality of care for those individuals with the following types of trauma:

Hand: fractures, soft tissue injuries, and replants of amputated fingers and/or hand.

A traumatic hand injury is a common reason for evaluation by the surgeons in the Department of Plastic Surgery. Often this is an emergent problem that requires immediate attention. Such problems may be simple, such as setting a broken bone, or extremely complex such as replantation (reattachment) of an amputated digit.

Management of a traumatic hand injury requires not only knowledge and surgical skill for technical repair, but also judgement of what is the right thing to do for the patient. The best treatment for one individual may not be identical for the next. For example, the risk of digit replantation is likely prohibitive for an 85 year old with a history of cardiac disease, including congestive heart failure, but not prohibitive for a 21 year old pianist. Issues of time off work, type of work, lifestyle, age, and co-existing health problems all enter into the decision making process.

The Department of Plastic Surgery provides consultation and treatment for a wide variety of problems of the hand, wrist, and upper extremity including bone, nerve, muscle, skin, and tendon injury. In addition, current techniques of reconstruction such as microsurgical free flaps are part of our expertise to provide the best long-term functional outcome.

*Images of a Head Trauma Patient

*The wounds shown here are intended for medical purposes and are graphic in nature.

Head and Neck: facial fractures, soft tissue reconstruction and nerve injuries.

Facial fractures are a common result of blunt injuries sustained from automobile accidents. Facial fracture management focuses not only on the bony injury but requires a detailed work up to rule out eye injuries, nerve injuries, and problem with chewing secondary to a broken jaw. A complete work up involves a detailed exam and appropriate x-rays. Treatment may consist of observation, laceration closure, and surgical repair of any bony fractures.

Soft Tissue: exposed bone and tissue defects.

Large skin and soft tissue defects at the time of a traumatic injury may necessitate immediate or delayed closure. Frequently because of the extent of the initial injury, scar and soft tissue revisions may be required. If any bone is exposed, adequate coverage may require V.A.C. Therapy or soft tissue rotation from local or distant sites.