Trauma in Obese Patients: Implications for Nursing Practice

Recently, the impact of obesity on the outcomes of trauma patients has been the focus of several investigations. There have been several studies addressing the impact of obesity on trauma patients. These studies have explicated the impact of obesity on negative outcomes of trauma patients. Several studies have identified a relationship between obesity and injury pattern, increased complications in outcomes related to surgical procedures, and increase mortality and morbidity rates in obese trauma patients. However, the literature in nursing management in this patient population is virtually nonexistent and vague. The purpose of this article is to delineate the nursing implications of obesity in trauma patients and to provide guidelines for care of obese trauma patients.