Trauma surgery workforce in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Objective: to describe the current scope of certified trauma surgeons trained in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, including demographic data, geographic distribution, remuneration, and perspectives related to this specialty.

Method: cross-sectional survey based on information collected through an electronic questionnaire sent to potential participants.

Results: the response rate was 64% (n=75). There was a predominance of males (72%) with a mean age of 43 years. Most surgeons graduated from the Hospital de Pronto Socorro de Porto Alegre, and work in referral centers for trauma surgery in the capital and metropolitan region. More than 60% did not have any other training in a surgical subspecialty, though only a third stated that trauma surgery is their main source of income.

Conclusion: trauma centers are poorly distributed and most surgeons work in referral hospitals in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre. Due to the lack of recognition, limited financial income and shift work patterns, the career in trauma surgery care is unattractive, with only one third of surgeons performing most of their activities in this specialty.