Ghost in the Machine: Leveraging artificial intelligence in the trauma bay

The first hour after injury, often termed the ‘golden hour,’ relies on rapid and accurate decision making to ensure timely delivery of trauma care. Coordination of prehospital resources, triage, resuscitation, and imaging is critical to patient outcomes. Unlike static algorithms or prediction scores, artificial intelligence (AI) models can integrate large volumes of data to provide actionable decision support. This narrative review explores current and emerging applications of AI in trauma care, specifically focusing on its role within the trauma bay.