Intro to trauma

Question 1

What three criteria does the QAS say should be considered in context of each other with regard to major trauma?

Answer 1

• Vital signs
• Mechanism of injury
• Patterns of injury

Question 2

What are the vital sign readings consistent with trauma in pts >14?

Answer 2

• ALOC
• RR <10 or >30
• SpO2 <95%
• HR >120
• Systolic BP <90mmHg

Question 3

What are the high risk mechanisms of trauma?

Answer 3

• Ejected from vehicle
• Fall from 3m or higher
• Involved in an explosion
• Involved in a high impact RTC with incursion into the occupant’s compartment
• Vehicle rollover
• RTC with a fatality in the same vehicle
• Entrapped for >30 mins

Question 4

For what injuries does QAS mandate tx tertiary care?

Answer 4

• Penetrating injuries to head/neck/chest/abdo/pelvis/axilla/groin
• Blast injuries to head/neck/chest/abdo/pelvis/axilla/groin
• Involve two or more of head/neck/chest/abdo/pelvis/axilla/groin
• Amputations above wrist or ankle
• Suspected SCI
• Serious crush injury
• Burns to >20% adults or 10% paeds or other complicated burn injury to hands/face/genitals/airway
• Major open # or dislocation with vascular compromise
• # involving two or more of femur/tibia/humerus