Trauma is a major health problem in all age groups but it is especially true in the young, due to high-velocity transportation, altercations, including with weapons and resulting in penetrating injuries, as well as falls and sportsrelated injuries. In addition, both the elderly and pregnant women are vulnerable to trauma. Improvements in the management of trauma include more rapid rescue, better organization of trauma centers, and advances in treatment. Current trends include increased non-operative management of trauma-related injuries, accurate imagingbased diagnosis, and greater emphasis on the efficient but cost-effective use of imaging. One aspect of the trend to non-operative care is the desire to avoid non-therapeutic surgery; this is possible if imaging can identify those patients who require surgery. Another is the realization that non-operative care can result in better long-term outcome, such as splenic salvage.