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Review
. 2001 Jul;8(7):758-60.
doi: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2001.tb00201.x.

The golden hour: scientific fact or medical "urban legend"?

E B Lerner  1 , R M Moscati
Affiliations
Free article
Review

The golden hour: scientific fact or medical "urban legend"?

E B Lerner et al. Acad Emerg Med. 2001 Jul.
Free article

Abstract

The term "golden hour" is commonly used to characterize the urgent need for the care of trauma patients. This term implies that morbidity and mortality are affected if care is not instituted within the first hour after injury. This concept justifies much of our current trauma system. However, definitive references are generally not provided when this concept is discussed. It remains unclear whether objective data exist. This article discusses a detailed literature and historical record search for support of the "golden hour" concept. None is identified.

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Comment in

  • The "golden hour" paradigm.
    Tallon JM. Tallon JM. Acad Emerg Med. 2002 Jul;9(7):760; author reply 760. doi: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2002.tb02159.x. Acad Emerg Med. 2002. PMID: 12093722 No abstract available.

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