ALTERNATIVE SURGERY IN TRAUMA MANAGEMENT

''Alternative'' surgery in the trauma discipline essentially means non operative or a selective approach to the injured victim. Such an appro ach is a critical part of the trauma management options. However, it i s unlikely that the term ''alternative surgery'' will be liberally use d to depict this growing trend of nonoperative, selective, and minimal ly invasive trauma management because of its less than favorable conno tations and biases with respect to alternative medicine. Although ther e are still clear indications for emergency operative intervention, th e nonoperative or selective approach in both penetrating and blunt tra uma is the state of the art.