Leading by example: the role of international trauma organizations in global trauma initiatives.

As road traffic fatalities have emerged among the leading global threats to human health and safety, there is an imminent need for the mobilization of large medical organizations and private companies. Collectively, these partnerships can have a tremendous impact on road traffic safety through garnering funding for important initiatives, lobbying governments for policy reforms, and implementing organizational frameworks that foster the transfer of health-care knowledge to optimize trauma care in developing countries. In particular, concerted efforts by major orthopaedic associations can directly enable overwhelmed health-care systems to improve upon their prehospital care, emergency triage systems, trauma care protocols, and rehabilitation programs. The "SIGN" and "Broken Earth" programs serve as prime examples of the powerful impact international trauma organizations can have on global trauma initiatives.