11.Issue 10 october 25 - INDO AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

Volume : 12, Issue : 10, October – 2025

Title:

THE GOLDEN HOUR’ CONCEPT IN TRAUMA CARE: AN EVIDENCE-BASED REVIEW OF ITS IMPACT ON PRE-HOSPITAL TRIAGE PROTOCOLS AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PREPAREDNESS
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Authors :

Faisal Mohammed Alghamdi, Ahmed Saleh Ahmed Alqahtani, Fouad Deefallah Saeed Alghmedi, Faris Ali Ahmad Areshi, Tariq Ahmed Abdullah Alasmari, Mishari Hamed Mohammed Alsobhi, Mohammed Faisal Mousa Alzahrani, Saud Mohammed Mohammed Almalki, Ahmad Omran Abdullah Almsbahi, Khaled Sohem Alsolame

Abstract :

The “Golden Hour” is a cornerstone of trauma care, emphasizing that survival rates significantly improve if definitive care is provided within the first sixty minutes post-injury. While this concept has fundamentally shaped modern trauma systems, its rigid interpretation and evidence base are debated. This review critically appraises the “Golden Hour” and synthesizes its impact on pre-hospital triage and emergency department (ED) preparedness. A systematic literature review was conducted, analyzing studies on major trauma patients and time-sensitive care outcomes. Findings confirm that time is critical for specific injuries. In hemorrhagic shock, rapid access to surgical hemorrhage control and transfusion is vital, while in severe traumatic brain injury, swift intervention prevents secondary damage. Consequently, the “Golden Hour” has driven pre-hospital protocols toward a “scoop and run” model and refined field triage criteria to ensure patients reach trauma centers swiftly. In the ED, it has mandated trauma team activation, the “Platinum Ten Minutes” for initial resuscitation, and structural readiness like in-house surgeons and massive transfusion protocols. Ultimately, the “Golden Hour” is best viewed as a system-wide imperative for efficiency, not a strict deadline. Its legacy is the standardization of patient-centered pathways from incident to ED. Future progress hinges on precision triage, overcoming logistical barriers, and integrating technology to optimize the entire trauma chain of survival.
Keywords: Golden Hour; Trauma Triage; Pre-Hospital Care; Emergency Department; Damage Control Resuscitation.

Cite This Article:

Please cite this article in press Faisal Mohammed Alghamdi et al., The Golden Hour’ Concept In Trauma Care: An Evidence-Based Review Of Its Impact On Pre-Hospital Triage Protocols And Emergency Department Preparedness, Indo Am. J. P. Sci, 2025; 12(10).

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