Hidden trauma in the walking wounded: A practical approach for community urgent care

Patients with significant trauma often “walk in” to community urgent care clinics, and their most serious injuries may be the least obvious.

This case-based session will outline a clear, team-friendly approach to assessing and stabilising trauma patients in the primary and urgent care setting.

We will focus on early recognition of subtle but life-threatening injuries such as intra-abdominal bleeding, haemothorax and traumatic brain injury, while not missing limb- and life-threatening external injuries.

Using the resources commonly available in New Zealand urgent care (POCUS, X-ray, IV fluids, analgesia, antibiotics and spinal control), we will discuss practical strategies for bleeding control, analgesia, packaging and safe transfer. The aim is to leave you with a simple mental model you can use on your next shift.