Severely injured patients with spinal injuries represent a highly vulnerable patient population. A multidisciplinary approach, involving trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons, intensive care physicians, and orthopaedic trauma surgeons is required to ensure an optimal management of these patients.

The Spine Trauma Center within the Center for Complex Fractures at Denver Health Medical Center is based on a multidisciplinary model. The spine trauma call schedule is shared between neurosurgeons and orthopaedic spine surgeons, who constitute the surgical "spine team". A unified team approach - based on standardized protocols - represents the basis for excellence of care of patients with spinal injuries.

Spine Trauma Center Goals:

• To provide safe and comprehensive care for severe and complex spine injuries.
• To apply "spine damage control" protocols for multisystem trauma patients with associated unstable spine injuries. For further information about "spine damage control", please see http://www.traumamanagement.org/content/pdf/1752-2897-3-6.pdf
• To improve patient safety and functional patient outcomes.
• To promote basic science research and clinical studies in the field of spine trauma and spinal cord injury.