Specialized VA medical centers can provide comprehensive polytrauma care for veterans and returning service members. Polytrauma signifies injuries, one of which may be life-threatening, to more than one physical region or organ system, which results in physical, cognitive, psychological or psychosocial impairment and functional disability. Some examples of polytrauma include:

• traumatic brain injury
• hearing loss
• amputations
• fractures
• burns
• visual impairment

Comprehensive polytrauma care In January 2005, the Department of Veterans Affairs established four poly-trauma rehabilitation centers at VA medical centers in Tampa, Fla.; Palo Alto, Calif.; Minneapolis, Minn.; and Richmond, Va. The network polytrauma site for the VISN 9 region is the VA Medical Center in Lexington, Ky.

VA medical centers provide comprehensive, high-quality, interdisciplinary care for their patients. Teams of physicians from every relevant field administer individually tailored rehabilitation plans to help patients recover as fully as possible. For more information, visit the VA polytrauma website  through your local VA web site.