Ch 25: traume overview

Work

force acting over a distance

Traumatic injuries occur when

the body’s tissues are exposed to energy levels

beyond their tolerance

Kinetic energy

Energy of a moving object associated with mass and velocity

Potential energy

product of mass, force of gravity, and height associated with falling objects

Nonsignificant injuries

isolated body injuries and falls without Loss of conscious

Blunt trauma

result of force to the body that causes injury without

penetrating the soft tissue

penetrating trauma

causes injury by objects that pierce and penetrate the

surface of the bod

examples of blunt trauma

Motor vehicle crashes and fall

First collision

car against object

secondary collision

person against interior of car

injuries for secondary collision

lower extremity fractures, flail chest,

and head trauma

third collision

internal organs vs solid body structures

sign of rear end crashes

whiplash

signs of lateral crashes

Lateral chest and abdomen injuries on the side of the impact

Possible fractures of the lower extremities, pelvis, and ribs

Organ damage from the third collision

injuries with rollover crashes

ejection or partial ejection of the

passenger from the vehicle

Info needed when car hits person or bike

Speed of the vehicle

 Whether the patient was thrown through the air

 Surface the patient landed on

 Whether the patient was struck and pulled under the vehicle

info when car hits motorcycle

Deformity of the motorcycle

 Side of most damage

 Distance of skid in the road

 Deformity of stationary objects or other vehicles

 Extent and location of deformity in the helmet

distance of significant fall

more than 20 ft

risk if land on feet

spinal injury and injuries to leg and pelvis

head on crash

Motorcycle hits an object and stops, but rider keeps moving forward

injuries for head on crash

Head, chest, abdomen, pelvis, femur injuries

angular crash

Motorcycle hits an object at an angle

angular crash injuries

Lower-extremity crushing injuries

ejection

Rider is thrown off the motorcycle and travels until stopped by road, object, or vehicle

ejection injuries

Severe road rash, head/spine injury, multisystem trauma

controlled crash

Rider “lays the bike down” to separate from motorcycle before impact

controlled crash injuries

Road rash, extremity injuries, possible blunt trauma

risk of penetrating traumas

knife may move around internally causing more damage

cavitation

changes in tissue and fluid pressure that occur with

the passage of the projectile.

primary blast

The pressure wave from the explosion damages the body

primary blast injuries

Ear injury/eardrum rupture, lung injury, GI injury(hollow organs)

2ndary blast

Flying debris/shrapnel hits the patient

2ndary blast injuries

Penetrating wounds, impaled objects, lacerations

3rd blast

The patient is thrown by the blast into an object

3rd blast injuries

Blunt trauma, head injury, fractures, spinal injury

quaternary blast injuries

Burns, toxic inhalation, crush injury, contamination

arterial air embolisms

air bubbles enter the systematic arterial circulation

signs of arterial air embolisms

Disturbances in vision

 Changes in behavior and state of consciousness

 Variety of other neurologic signs

common cause of death for blast injuries

neurological injuries and head trauma

on scene time for trauma

10 minutes or less

When a patient has experienced a significant MOI and is critical condition,

rapidly perform a physical examination

When a patient has experienced a nonsignificant MOI,

focus on the chief complain

crushing injuries could cause

cartilages of the upper airway and larynx to

fracture

solid organs may

tear, lacerate or fracture

hollow organs may

rupture and leak toxic digestive chemicals

Deployed airbag injuries

abrasions of the face, head, and arm

bent steering wheel related to what injuries

chest injuries

nonintact windshield related to what injuries

head, face and neck injuries

crushed instrument panel causes what injuries

leg and hip injuries

level 1 facility

Provides every aspect of trauma care

level 3 facility

Provides assessment, resuscitation, emergency care, and stabilization

level 2 facility

Provides initial definitive care

level 4 facility

Provides advanced trauma life support