Background: To evaluate if combining operative treatment of patients with trauma and general surgey emergencies offers a good operative experience and can be a model for a Trauma Center organization, we compare our surgical experience with that of our generale surgeons. Methods: We reviewed records to determine number of operation, need of intensive care unit care for patients treated, the after hours practice by the trauma and emergency surgeons and general surgeons over a 1-year period at Ospedale Maggiore of Bologna. Results: Emergency and trauma surgeons performed more operations per surgeons (133,7Vs102,6) and managed more patients in intensive care unit than general surgeons. 51,8% of emergency and trauma operations were after hours. Conclusion: The care of trauma and amergency patients resulted in a breadth and scope of practice for trauma and emergency surgeons compared well with that of general surgeons but in a worse lifestyle.