Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government

VA Health Systems Research

Go to the VA ORD website
Go to the QUERI website
FORUM - Translating research into quality health care for Veterans

» Back to Table of Contents


The Value of Polytrauma Interdisciplinary Care

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) has been termed the "signature injury" of the recent Middle East conflicts. However, the defining condition of combat-exposed service members and Veterans is better captured by the term "polytrauma," which is defined as two or more injuries to organ systems or parts of the body that create potentially life-threatening injuries and/or disruption to physical, mental, and psychological functioning.

Studies have identified TBI, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and pain as the major comorbid elements most frequently seen in polytrauma injury. 1 Investigators have noted that, among Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF: Afghanistan through August 2010), Iraqi Freedom (OIF: Iraq through August 2010), and New Dawn (OND: Afghanistan, Iraq, and surrounding regions since September 2010) service members treated at an inpatient VA polytrauma rehabilitation unit, 80 to 93 percent were diagnosed with TBI, 81 to 96 percent with pain, and 44 to 52.6 percent with a mental health disorder.2 And OEF/OIF/OND Service members and Veterans treated for combat-related injuries in VA outpatient polytrauma programs were diagnosed with three or more post-concussive symptoms 67 to 97 percent of the time, complained of persistent pain 82 to 97 percent of the time, and were diagnosed with PTSD 68 to 71 percent of the time. A number of other potentially disabling concomitant conditions—including depression and substance abuse—can also accompany TBI and add to the complexity of diagnosis and management. Approximately half of all returning OEF/OIF/OND Veterans who sought care from VA presented with one or more of these diagnoses; interestingly, more than 90 percent of those with confirmed TBI also have PTSD, pain, or both diagnoses.3

As with any health condition that has several sources of pathology, layers of physiologic and psychologic underpinnings, and a complex symptomatology, the key to successful understanding and management involves a uniform, interdisciplinary, comprehensive team approach. This approach is well exemplified by the integrated post-deployment care that characterizes VA's Post-Deployment Integrated Care Initiative (PDICI)—an initiative grounded in the basic tenets of the PACT (Patient Aligned Care Team) model. Drs. Hunt and Burgo-Black eloquently outline the evolution of these approaches in their commentary "A Transformation in VA Post-Deployment Care."

While it is important to recognize that individuals with significant persistent polytrauma symptoms (or "post-deployment syndrome") may continue to experience difficulties even in the best of circumstances, they are likely to benefit from the integrated services of the PDICI/PACT approach. Often, there is no simple or quick solution to the complex conditions that may be seen with polytrauma, let alone the magnification and uniqueness of the symptoms and functional deficits that Veterans may experience with two or more conditions. An established team of dedicated professionals with both primary care and specialty care expertise is the most effective approach. Such a team understands the subtleties of diagnoses and care for post-deployment syndrome and can develop a long-term relationship with Veterans. VA's highly developed mental health services, polytrauma system of care, and pain management services provide the specialty expertise required for particularly challenging or atypical cases.

Ongoing research may provide some insights into: (1) the specifics of the initial injury or exposure (e.g., blast) on treatment selection or outcome; (2) technological advances that will enhance diagnostic accuracy; (3) smart or designer pharmaceuticals that can target specific sites in the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nervous system to provide symptom relief or enhance recovery; and (4) the relative advantages of specific therapies (e.g., exercise, cognitive, behavioral) for variants of polytrauma. For the time being, we are fortunate to have an established system of care in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) that addresses the difficulties of Veterans who have returned from combat with complex physical, cognitive, and behavioral dysfunction in a comprehensive and compassionate way. In addition, the intense research focus by the military, VA, the sports world, and academia on the chronic effects of TBI and the potential for neurodegenerative decline many years after single or multiple TBIs may yield specific diagnostic or management paradigms.

More likely than not, any advances in research will reaffirm the value of the PDICI/PACT model of care as outlined in Hunt and Burgo-Black's commentary, which describes strategies that Veteran-centric teams can use to complement their existing assessment and management tools. The increasing adoption of this interdisciplinary model of health care to diagnose and manage complex conditions is pivotal to VHA's ongoing success in the 21st century.

  1. Lew, H.L. et al. "Prevalence of Chronic Pain, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Persistent Postconcussive Symptoms in OIF/OEF Veterans: Polytrauma Clinical Triad," Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development 2009; 46(6):697-702.
  2. Sayer, N.A. et al. "Rehabilitation Needs of Combat-Injured Service Members Admitted to the VA Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers: The Role of PM&R in the Care of the Wounded Warrior," PM&R 2009; 1(1):23-8.
  3. Cifu, D.X. et al. "TBI, PTSD and Pain Diagnoses in Iraq and Afghanistan Conflict Veterans," Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 2013 (in press).

Questions about the HSR website? Email the Web Team

Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.