Trauma Innovation conference welcomes record number of military and civil healthcare professionals

Trauma Innovation 2016 saw attendance figures nearly double as clinicians gathered to discuss future trauma care capabilities

Trauma Innovation welcomed a record number of military and civil healthcare professionals to Birmingham from 27 – 28 September. Over 700 delegates from the UK and overseas gathered to discuss the latest advances in combat casualty care and how civilian medical services can learn from the military on vital aspects of trauma care delivery.

Run in partnership with the Ministry of Defence department, Defence Medical Services, and Orthopaedic Research UK, the 2016 event brought the future of patient care to the fore, ensuring military and civil healthcare professionals are prepared for future incidents.

The conference focused on understanding the complex nature of blast and gunshot injuries and how current research into these types of injuries is enabling clinicians to manage wounds more effectively and reduce the overall long term impact on victims’ lives.

Conference delegates, including 95 VIPs from leading medical organisations in 14 countries, heard from military clinicians on topics such as vehicle blast mitigation strategies, virtual and augmented reality for simulated trauma care training and the development of body-worn sensors to provide real-time information on a soldier’s condition.  

Delegates were also able to see some of the latest innovations in trauma care capability. 32 exhibitors, an increase of 39% on the previous event, showcased high-tech medical kit, including a ‘sim-dummy’ with life-like organs used for surgical training, currently being developed by Nottingham Trent University. Mobile ultrasound imaging via a smart device, developed by Philips, also attracted a lot of attention from visitors.

The event’s unprecedented attendance underpins a strong appetite within the healthcare sector to improve trauma care delivery, not only through developing capability, but through collaboration, education and integrating the military and civil medical communities where commonalities enable lessons to be learnt from each other.

Commenting on the event Colonel King’Ori, Lead Consultant Neuro Surgeon, Kenya Defence Force (KDF), said:

It’s an excellent event with very knowledgeable speakers. The presentations were clear and the exhibition highlighted a lot of great innovation. It was a fantastic event for us to attend and get an idea about the types of innovations we can take back to the KDF.

Professor Kay Fawcett OBE, Royal College of Nursing, added:

Events such as Trauma Innovation are invaluable as the integration of military and civilian trauma care is so important. Civilian care can learn from and apply the same principals as the military with both sides learning from one another.

Surgeon Captain Sarah Stapley, Defence Professor of Trauma and Orthopaedics, DMS, who produced this year’s conference programme, said:

The Defence Medical Services is thrilled with the recent success of the Trauma Innovation 2016 conference held in conjunction with Orthopaedic Research UK and Clarion Events. The conference maintained the momentum towards understanding and innovation in trauma care across all specialties, allowing cross-specialty, national and international networking, so that as a collective we may deliver improved outcomes for our Service personnel, carers and civilian population in the future.

A spokesperson from Orthofix, which provides reconstructive and regenerative orthopedic and spine solutions and exhibited at the event, commented:

Trauma Innovation 2016 was an excellent event that enabled us to have a number of valuable conversations with potential new customers. We’re a leader in the NHS, but the military is a growth area for us. By exhibiting we have been given an excellent opportunity to meet key influencers in military healthcare, so from that perspective it was superb.

Trauma Innovation will next take place at DSEI 2017, 11-15 September 2017 at ExCeL London, UK.