[Specialized trauma surgery: do we need it at all?]

Despite maximally motivated and professionally outstanding young talent, the particularly stressful surgical disciplines have recruitment concerns. In recent years various sections and subsidiary societies of the German Society for Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery (DGOU) have developed and distributed personnel and institution-related certificates. Organ-specific and procedure-specific certificates are very popular to confer increased visibility to individuals and institutions. Many specialists for orthopedics and trauma surgery specialized early in fields, such as foot, knee, shoulder, elbow or arthroscopic surgery. General traumatology, treatment of polytrauma and complex traumatology of the chest and abdomen are becoming more and more unattractive. Knife attacks and also the "truck attack" at the Breitscheidplatz in Berlin illustrate the smoldering terror situation in Germany. The Federal Criminal Police Office also recently announced that the incidence of domestic violence increased by 6.5% in 2023 alone. This cannot be mastered with specialization alone. The visibility and the attractiveness of specialized trauma surgery must be increased and structures for appropriate specialization must be achieved. The possible introduction of a qualification "specialized trauma surgery" is discussed. In current considerations of the German Society of Trauma Surgery (DGU), the Academy for Trauma Surgery (AUC) and the Working Group for Osteosynthesis Issues (AO) Trauma Germany, a stepwise acquisition of defined knowledge from the principles on basic contents up to specialization and expert knowledge, could lead to the acquisition of the qualification in "specialized trauma surgery".