Traumatology, surgical critical care and emergency surgery
The Penn Traumatology, Surgical Critical Care, and Emergency Surgery team provides timely, expert treatment to improve survival rates and quality of life for traumatically injured and critically ill patients.
Services for injured patients
- Emergency surgery- Penn emergency surgeons specialize in the full spectrum of complex general and emergency surgical procedures.
- Surgical critical care- Penn surgical critical care physicians specialize in critical care treatment and management of patients who require both emergency surgery and an ICU level of care.
- Trauma centers- Penn’s Level 1 Trauma Centers offer the most advanced specialty care in the region, resulting in exceptional patient outcomes that rank well above national average
Transferring a patient
Transferring a patient to Penn Medicine for trauma care ensures access to top-tier medical expertise and advanced treatment options, prioritizing swift and effective interventions for critical conditions.
Conditions we treat
- Bowel Obstruction
- Concussion
- Jaw Fracture
- Jaw Injury
- Skull Fracture
- Upper Extremity Fracture
Injury Prevention and Outreach Program
Traumatic injuries are one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Through our Injury Prevention and Outreach Program, our safety research, education, and training efforts help our community prevent traumatic injuries.
Related articles
Patient stories
Home-assisted ventilation for autoimmune disease: Kim’s story
A rare autoimmune disease kept Kim Day from his favorite outdoor hobbies, until he met doctors in the Fishman Program for Home Assisted Ventilation.
ECMO saves recovering cancer survivor from lung failure
From cancer survivor to lung failure, Joey Porch’s journey took a miraculous turn with the help of the Penn Lung Rescue team
New lungs, a new liver, and a new lease on life
Decades after a childhood diagnosis of cystic fibrosis, Donald traveled across the world to find transplant care he could trust at Penn Medicine.
Epilepsy surgery gives patient a new lease on life
Minimally invasive laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) surgery reduced the epilepsy symptoms a patient had experienced for more than 30 years.
From a bone-on-bone jaw to living the life she planned
Penn Medicine’s expert team helped Kristina navigate a complex diagnosis and nickel allergy to alleviate her jaw pain and improve her bite.
With the gift of hands comes feeling like ‘a whole human’
Getting Luka Krizanac new hands took 16 years, a connection between a surgeon and his mentor, and surgeries on two continents.
How home care connects real-life settings to patients’ healing
At-home care means helping people within their real environment, a personalized approach to care in the local community.
A personal perspective on gender-affirming care
A lifelong performer shares how she began enjoying life even more after facial feminization surgery, as part of her gender-affirming care.
Finding relief from decades of jaw pain
Marie experienced intense pain due to an inherited condition and injuries. Penn Medicine’s TMJ program helped her find relief.
How pickleball (and Penn Medicine) saved one patient’s life
With teamwork and determination, specialists at Penn Medicine solved Ronnie Recchia’s life-threatening medical mystery and got him back in the game.