Language
Country/Area
No result found
What is blunt trauma? How does it affect our bodies?
Blunt trauma, also known as blunt force trauma or non-penetrating trauma, is a physical trauma caused by a violent impact that does not penetrate the surface of the body. Contrast this with penetrating trauma, which occurs when an object pierces the skin, enters body tissue and creates an open wound. Blunt trauma commonly occurs in traffic accidents, assaults, and sports, and is particularly common in older adults injured in falls. Blunt trauma can cause a variety of injuries, including bruises, concussions, abrasions, lacerations, internal or external bleeding, and broken bones. The severity of these injuries depends on the force of the impact, the part of the body affected and the victim's underlying medical conditions.
In some cases, blunt trauma can be life-threatening and may require immediate medical attention. Blunt trauma to the head and severe blood loss are the most common causes of death.
Classification of blunt trauma
Blunt abdominal trauma
Blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) accounts for 75% of all blunt trauma. 75% of abdominal trauma occurs in accidents between people and vehicles, where rapid deceleration may cause the driver to be pushed towards the steering wheel, dashboard or seat belt. This trauma can result in minor bruising or, in severe cases, tearing of internal organs. In the initial stages, there may be no obvious signs of serious internal injuries, making assessment more challenging.
The two primary mechanisms of blunt abdominal trauma are compression and deceleration. Compression is caused by direct blow or contact with a non-deformable object, while deceleration results in stretching and shearing of the movable material in the abdomen.
Blunt chest trauma
Blunt chest trauma often involves a variety of chest injuries, ranging from simple bruising to more complex hypoxia, ventilation-blood flow mismatch, hypovolemia, etc. This type of trauma is not necessarily visible on the surface, and signs of internal injury may not appear until hours after the trauma occurs.
The most immediately life-threatening trauma includes tension pneumothorax, open pneumothorax, hemothorax, floating chest wall, cardiac tamponade, and airway obstruction/rupture.
Blunt head trauma
The primary clinical concern with blunt head trauma is damage to the brain. Post-injury assessment includes checking the status of the airway, circulation, and breathing. If neck trauma is suspected, a cervical spine brace may be applied.
Blunt limb trauma
Injuries to the extremities are very common, with falls being the most common cause, especially if an accident occurs at work. In an injured limb, four main functional components are typically examined: soft tissue, nerves, blood vessels, and bone.
Blunt pelvic trauma
The most common causes of blunt pelvic trauma are traffic accidents and falls from multiple stories. Pelvic trauma is often associated with trauma to other sites, and the main concern is the risk of pelvic fracture, which may lead to bleeding, urethral and bladder damage.
Blunt cardiac trauma
Blunt cardiac trauma, or blunt heart injury, covers a wide range of heart injuries from blunt trauma to the chest. Although most patients are asymptomatic, some cases can lead to severe heart failure and death.
Assessment and Diagnosis
In most cases, procedures for initial evaluation and stabilization of trauma follow the same general principles for identifying and treating immediately life-threatening injuries. The assessment typically begins with ensuring the patient's airway is clear and then extends to the collection of medical records and the use of necessary imaging studies to view potential harm.
The low-risk phase check criteria for patients with blunt abdominal trauma include: no intoxication, no hypotension or high pulse, no abdominal pain or tenderness, and no blood in the urine.
Treatment
When blunt trauma is severe enough to require medical evaluation, treatment is usually aimed at treating the life-threatening injury, such as maintaining a clear airway and preventing ongoing bleeding. In the face of blunt abdominal injuries, the most frequent injuries occur in the small intestine, which in severe cases can lead to small bowel perforation, a serious problem that requires emergency surgery and poses the risk of infection.
Treatment for blunt head injuries depends on the extent of the injury. Maintaining good oxygen saturation is usually the focus of pathology management, with consideration of supportive therapies such as mechanical ventilation when necessary.
The incidence of blunt trauma is still affecting the health and safety of young generations globally, which makes people think: How should we prevent these accidents more effectively to protect everyone’s life?< /p>
