Reply to the Comment of the Letter to the Editor on the Survey on Trauma Systems in Spain

Dear Editor,

First of all, I thank the author of the Letter to the Editor for the comments made. The article referred to is no more and no less than a glimpse of the current situation of polytrauma patient care in Spain, which is not up to par with that of other countries, such as the United States.¹

The ATLS method is likewise applicable to prehospital treatment (PHTLS), with certain nuances, but the method is essentially just as valid. Indeed, prehospital treatment is fundamental because the decisions made and steps taken are extremely important as they are part of the “golden hour” of polytrauma patient care.

It is true that several hospitals are currently starting to organize and create protocols for their polytrauma patients, and pre-hospital care is an important part of this organization.² Each hospital that organizes polytrauma patient treatment should obviously have a database. Nevertheless, the shortcoming that our health care system has not yet dealt with is, as stated by the authors of the letter, not just pre-hospital care, but also social reintegration programs for trauma patients.