Context: Survival rates after severe injury are improving, but complication rates and outcomes are variable.
Objective: This cohort study addressed the lack of longitudinal data on the steroid response to major trauma and during recovery.
Design: We undertook a prospective, observational cohort study from time of injury to 6 months postinjury at a major UK trauma centre and a military rehabilitation unit, studying patients within 24 hours of major trauma (estimated New Injury Severity Score (NISS) > 15).