Trauma 1 Exam

blunt trauma

an impact on the body by objects that cause injury without penetrating soft tissues or internal organs and cavities

cavitation

a phenomenon in which speed causes a bullet to generate pressure waves, which cause damage distant from the bullet’s path

coup-contrecoup brain injury

a brain injury that occurs when force is applied to the head and energy transmission through brain tissue causes injury on the opposite side of original impact

deceleration

the slowing of an object

glasgow coma scale (GCS) score

an evaluation tool used to determine level of consciousness, which evaluates and assigns point values (scores) for eye opening, verbal response, and motor response, which are then totaled; it is effective in helping predict patient outcomes

index of suspicion

awareness that unseen life-threatening injuries may exist when determining the mechanism of injury

kinetic energy

the energy of a moving object

mechanism of injury (MOI)

the forces, or energy transmission, applied to the body that cause injury

medical emergencies

emergencies that require EMS attention because of illnesses or conditions not caused by an outside force

multisystem trauma

trauma that affects more than one body system

penetrating trauma

injury caused by objects, such as knives and bullets, that pierce the surface of the body and damage internal tissues and organs

potential energy

the product of mass, gravity, and height, which is converted into kinetic energy and results in injury, such as from a fall

projectile

any object propelled by force, such as a bullet by a weapon

pulmonary blast injuries

pulmonary trauma resulting from short-range exposure to the detonation of explosives

revised trauma score (RTS)

a scoring system used for patients with head trauma

trajectory

the path a projectile takes once it is propelled

trauma emergencies

emergencies that result from physical forces applied to a patient’s body

trauma score

a score calculated from 1 to 16 being the best possible score. it relates to the likelihood of patient survival with the exception of a severe head injury. it takes into account the glasgow coma scale (GCS) score, respiratory rate, respiratory rate, respiratory expansion, systolic blood pressure, and capillary refill

tympanic membrane

the eardrum; a thin, semi-transparent membrane in the middle ear that transmits sound vibrations to the internal ear by means of auditory ossicles

aorta

the main artery that receives blood from the left ventricle and delivers it to all the other arteries that carry blood to the tissues of the body

arterioles

the smallest branches of arteries leading to the vast network of capillaries

artery

a blood vessel, consisting of three layers of tissue and smooth muscle, that carries blood away from the heart

capillaries

the small blood vessels that connect arterioles and venules; various substances pass through capillary walls, into and out of the interstitial fluid, and then on to the cells

coagulation

the formation of clots to plug openings in injured blood vessels and stop blood flow

contusion

a bruise from an injury that causes bleeding beneath the skin without breaking the skin; also see ecchymosis

ecchymosis

a buildup of blood beneath the skin that produces a characteristic blue or black discoloration as the result of an injury; also see contusion

epistaxis

a nosebleed

hematemesis

the vomiting of blood

hematoma

a mass of blood that has collected within damaged tissue beneath the skin or in a body cavity

hematuria

blood in the urine

hemophilia

a hereditary condition in which the patient lacks one or more of the blood’s normal clotting factors

hemoptysis

the coughing up of blood

hemorrhage

bleeding

hemostatic dressing

a dressing impregnated with a chemical compound that slows or stops bleeding by assisting with clot formation

hypoperfusion

a condition in which the circulatory system fails to provide sufficient circulation to maintain normal cellular functions; also called shock

hypovolemic shock

a condition in which low blood volume, due to massive internal or external bleeding or extensive loss of body water, results in inadequate perfusion

junctional tourniquet

a device that provides proximal compression of severe bleeding near the axial or inguinal junction with the torso

melena

dark, foul-smelling, tarry stool containing digested blood

open-book pelvic fracture

a life-threatening fracture of the pelvis caused by a force that displaces one or both sides of the pelvis laterally and posteriorly

pelvic binder

a device to splint the bony pelvis to reduce hemorrhage from bone ends, venous disruption, and pain

perfusion

the circulation of blood within an organ or tissue in adequate amounts to meet the current needs of the cells

shock

a condition in which the circulatory system fails to provide sufficient circulation to maintain normal cellular functions; also called hypoperfusion

tourniquet

the bleeding control method used when a wound continues to a bleed despite the use of direct pressure; useful if a patient is bleeding severely from a partial or complete amputation

vasoconstriction

the narrowing of a blood vessel, such as with hypoperfusion or cold extremities

veins

the blood vessels that carry blood from the tissues to the heart

venules

very small, thin-walled blood vessles

abrasion

loss or damage of the superficial layer of skin as a result of a body part rubbing or scraping across a rough or hard surface

amputation

an injury in which part of the body is completely severed

avulsion

an injury in which soft tissue is torn completely loose or is hanging as a flap

burns

injuries in which soft-tissue damage occurs as a result of thermal heat, frictional heat, toxic chemicals, electricity, or nuclear radiation

circumferential burns

burns that go completely around a body part, such as an arm, a foot, or the chest

closed injuries

injuries in which damage occurs beneath the skin or mucous membrane but the surface of the skin remains intact

compartment syndrome

swelling in a confined space that produces dangerous pressure; may cut off blood flow or damage sensitive tissue

contact burn

a burn caused by direct contact with a hot object

contamination

the presence of infective organisms or foreign bodies such as dirt, gravel, or metal

contusion

a bruise from an injury that causes bleeding beneath the skin without breaking the skin

crush injury

an injury that occurs when a great amount of force is applied to the body

crush syndrome

significant metabolic derangement that develops when crushed extremities or body parts remain trapped for prolonged periods. this can lead to kidney failure and death

deep partial-thickness burns

burns that extend deeper into the dermis, destroying more of the blood vessels. they appear lighter in color than superficial partial-thickness burns are also referred to as second-degree burns

dermis

the inner layer of the skin, containing hair follicles, sweat glands, nerve endings, and blood vessels

ecchymosis

a buildup of blood beneath the skin that produces a characteristic blue or black discoloration as the result of an injury

epidermis

the outer layer of skin, which is made up of cells that are sealed together to form a watertight protective covering for the body

evisceration

the displacement of organs outside of the body

fascia

the fiber-like connective tissue that covers arteries, veins, tendons, and ligaments

flame burn

a burn caused by an open flame

flash burn

a burn caused by exposure to very intense heat, such as in an explosion

full-thickness burns

burns that affect all skin layers and may affect the subcutaneous layers, muscle, bone, and internal organs, leaving the area dry, leathery, and white, dark brown, or charred; often referred to as third-degree burns

hematoma

a mass of blood that has collected within damaged tissue beneath the skin or in a body cavity

impaled objects

objects that penetrate the skin but remain in place

incision

a sharp, smooth cut in the skin

laceration

a deep, jagged cut in the skin

mucous membranes

the linings of body cavities an passages that communicate directly or indirectly with the environment outside the body

occlusive dressing

an airtight dressing that protects a wound from air and bacteria; a commercial vented version allows air to passively escape from the chest, while an unvented dressing may be made of petroleum jelly-based (vaseline) gauze, aluminum foil, or plastic

open injuries

injuries in which there is a break in the surface of the skin or the mucous membrane, exposing deeper tissue to potential contamination

penetrating wound

an injury resulting from a sharp, piercing object

rabid

infected with the rabies virus

rule of nines

a system that assigns percentages to sections of the body, allowing calculation of the amount of skin surface involved in the burn area

scald burn

a burn caused by hot liquids

steam burn

a burn caused by exposure to hot steam

superficial burns

burns that affect only the epidermis, characterized by skin that is red/darker but not blistered or actually burned through; also referred to as first-degree burns

superficial partial-thickness burns

burns that affect the epidermis and some portion of the dermis but not the subcutaneous tissue, characterized by blisters and skin that is discolored (ranging from lighter to red/darker compared to baseline skin color), moist, and mottled. partial-thickness burns are also referred to as second-degree burns

thermal burn

a burn caused by heat

kinetic energy = ½ mass x velocity²

kinetic energy

potential energy = mass x gravity x height

potential energy

objects at rest stays at rest and objects in motion stay in motion unless acted on by an outside force

newton’s first law

force equals mass times acceleration (F = m x a)

newton’s second law

for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction

newton’s third law

first collision in car crash

car against other object

second collision in car crash

passenger against the interior of the car

third collision in car crash

passenger’s internal organs against the solid structures of the body

head on crash, angular crash, ejection, controlled crash

four types of motorcycle impacts

Manual vital signs, Events leading up to the fall, Medications, Assessment (including stroke), Walk

MEMAW mnemonic (falls in geriatric patient)

due entirely to the blast itself

primary blast injury

damage to the body results from being struck by flying debris

secondary blast injury

occur when the patient is hurled by the force of the explosion against a stationary object

tertiary blast injury

miscellaneous injuries includes burns from hot gases or fires from the blast, respiratory injuries from inhaling toxic gases, suffocation, poisoning, medical emergencies incurred as a result of the explosion, crush injuries from the collapse of buildings, radiation injuries, and mental health emergencies

quaternary blast injury

clinical consequences of contaminants released into the environment by an explosion

quinary blast injury

a comprehensive regional resource that is a tertiary care facility; capable providing total care for every aspect of injury, from prevention to rehabilitation

level one trauma center

able to initiate definitive care for all injured patients

level two trauma center

able to provide prompt assessment, resuscitation, and stabilization of injured patients and emergency operations

level three trauma center