Kinetic Motion, Falls, Blunt, Penetrating, Electrocution, and Blast Trauma

Trauma

Physical force applied to the body

Kinetic Energy Formula

KE = 1/2M x V squared (m = mass) (v = velocity)

What does the kinetic energy formula mean?

The squaring of velocity means that every increase in velocity doubles the effect. For example, a double in velocity means there is a quadrupling in kinetic energy

Mechanism of Injury (MOI)

The way the injury occurred (do not include medical illnesses — this is NOI)

Blunt Trauma Definition + Implication

Force applied to body without causing penetrating injuries

• Can spread to a larger area rather than a narrow field (like with penetrating)

Blunt Trauma Categories

Car crashes (MVC)

Falls

Vehicle vs. pedestrian, bike, or motorcycle

Significant Fall Metrics

Adults: 15ft +

Children: 2x their height (for children <6 years old) or 10ft

Factors Determining Severity of Fall

Landing Position

Part of body that hit the ground first

Age (older + younger)

Important to Asses for Fall

Ask if all of these things happened BEFORE OR AFTER the fall

• Loss or change in consciousness

• Numbness/tingling/weakness

• Nausea/vomitting

Penetrating Trauma Defintion

When an object actually enters the patient (sometimes with entrance and exit wounds)

Low Velocity Objects Damage

Do not expect to see much damage outside of the path of the object (with exception of a knife which can be moved in the body after the initial injury)

Medium/High Velocity Injuries

There can be damage to the area surrounding the direct path

Damage from Bullets

Fragment, flatten, tumble, etc. around inside the body causing more damage

Cavitation

Pressure waves from the bullet form cavities (permanent and temporary) inside the body damaging tissue and organs around but not in the direct path

Primary Blast Injuries

Injuries as a result of the initial blast

Typical Primary Blast Injuries

• Damage to the ears, lungs, and GI tract

Secondary Blast Injuries

Injuries from shrapnel or debris

Common Secondary Blast Injury

Amputations, blunt trauma, penetrating injuries

Tertiary Blast Injury

When the patient is thrown into an object or the ground

Common Tertiary Blast Injuries

Internal bleeding, head trauma, blunt force trauma

Quaternary (Miscellaneous) Blast Injuries

Burns, radiation exposure, toxic gas inhalation

Multi-System Trauma

Patients with multiple traumatic injuries involving more than one body system