Intro to Trauma & Injuries

Question 1

Abrasion

Answer 1

A scraping or rubbing away of a surface.

i.e. — A skinned knee.

Question 2

Avulsion

Answer 2

Tearing away or separation of body tissue.

May be partial or complete.

i.e. — An individual becoming “de-gloved”.

Question 3

Bandage(s)

Answer 3

Any material used to hold a dressing in place.

Bandages do no need to be sterile.

Question 4

Battle Sign

(Postauricular Ecchymosis)

Answer 4

Bruising behind the ears over the mastoid process, generally caused by Basilar Skull Fractures.

May be seen in conjunction with Periorbital Ecchymosis.

Question 5

Cheyne-stokes

Answer 5

An abnormal pattern of breathing characterized by oscillation of ventilation
between apnea (no breathing) and hyperpnea (excessive breathing).

May occur while awake, but most commonly seen during sleep.

Typical cycles can last between 30 seconds to 2 minutes.

Question 6

Concussion

Answer 6

Closed head injury without detectable damage to the brain.

Common methods of injury:

— Direct cranial impacts
— Rapid acceleration-to-deceleration
— Blasts and high decibels

Question 7

Contusion

Answer 7

A bruise.

Question 8

Dressing

Answer 8

Any material applied to a wound in an effort to control bleeding and prevent further contamination.

Dressings should be sterile, and are also referred to as gauze.

Question 9

Epistaxis

Answer 9

A bloody nose.

Question 10

Eviseration

Answer 10

An intestine or other internal organ protruding through a wound in the
abdomen.

A severe condition that derived from Dehiscence.

Question 11

Flail Chest

Answer 11

3 or more ribs fractured in 2 or more places or multiple rib fractures involving the sternum.

Question 12

Golden Hour

Answer 12

The first sixty minutes after the occurrence of multi-system trauma.

It is widely believed that the victim’s chances of survival are greatest if they receive definitive care in the operating room within the first hour.

Question 13

Hematoma

Answer 13

A pool of blood that collects within damaged tissue or in a body cavity.

A type of internal bleeding that has either clotted or is forming clots.

Question 14

Hemopneumothorax

Answer 14

Combination of blood/air in the Pleural Space (lung membrane cavity) due to a traumatic or non-traumatic cause.

Can develop into a Tension Hemopneumothorax.

Question 15

Hemothorax

Answer 15

Blood in the Pleural Space (lung membrane cavity) due to a traumatic or non-traumatic cause.

Can develop into a Tension Hemothorax.

Question 16

Hemorrhage

Answer 16

The condition of bleeding.

i.e. — Cerebral hemorrhaging due to onset stages of stroke.

Question 17

Hypoperfusion

Answer 17

Poor and/or decreased blood flow.

A condition that develops when the circulatory system is not able to deliver sufficient blood to body organs, resulting in decreased blood flow, organ failure, and eventual death if untreated.

Also known as Shock.

Question 18

Hypovolemia

Answer 18

A state of decreased blood volume.

Common causes are:

— Dehydration
— Bleeding
— Vomiting
— Severe burns
— Certain drugs

Question 19

Ischemia

Answer 19

Poor blood supply to an organ or part of the body which causes a lack of oxygen and nutrients.

It also causes a harmful buildup of waste products in that organ or part of the body.

Question 20

Laceration

Answer 20

A smooth or jagged cut.

i.e. — Slicing into your hand while cutting food.

Question 21

Log-roll

Answer 21

The controlled movement of a patient onto their side (lateral position) for the
purpose of assessment or placement of the patient onto a long spine board.

Commonly used for patients with spinal cord injuries.

Question 22

Occlusive Dressing

Answer 22

Is an air-and-water-tight trauma dressing.

Used in sucking chest wounds
and neck wounds.

Question 23

PASG

Answer 23

Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment (PASG).

Military Anti-Shock Trousers.

Question 24

Paradoxical Motion

Answer 24

The injured portion of the chest wall moves in the opposite direction than
normal.

Seen with flail chest injuries.

Question 25

Perfusion

Answer 25

The delivery of arterial blood to the capillary bed. Decreased perfusion is also known as shock or ischemia. The adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients to the organs and tissues of the body with the removal of waste products.

Question 26

Pleural Space

Answer 26

A potential space in between two membranes which cover the lungs. One is attached to the chest wall and the other is attached to the lungs.

Question 27

Platinum Ten Minutes

Answer 27

The maximum amount of time after EMS arrival to assess, package and begin transport of the critical trauma patient.

Question 28

Pneumothorax

Answer 28

Air in the Pleural Space (lung membrane cavity) due to a traumatic or non-traumatic cause. Can develop into a Tension Pneumothorax.

Question 29

Posturing

Answer 29

An involuntary flexion or extension of the arms and legs, indicating severe brain injury. It occurs when one set of muscles becomes incapacitated while the opposing set is not, and an external stimulus such as pain causes the working set of muscles to contract. Occurs primarily in two forms: — Decerebrate posturing — Decorticate posturing

Question 30

Raccoon’s Eyes (Periorbital Ecchymosis)

Answer 30

Black eyes which can be caused by Basilar Skull Fractures. May be seen in conjunction with Postaricular Ecchymosis.

Question 31

Shock

Answer 31

A condition that develops when the circulatory system is not able to deliver sufficient blood to body organs, resulting in decreased blood flow, organ failure, and eventual death if untreated. Medically known as Hypoperfusion.

Question 32

Sprain

Answer 32

A partial or temporary dislocation of the joint. Partial stretching or tearing of the supporting ligaments. Considered to be a partial dislocation.

Question 33

Superficial

Answer 33

Insignificant or minor. May also refer to a more anterior positioning.

Question 34

Tourniquet

Answer 34

A wide constricting band used to stop bleeding. NOTE: Only used when other attempts to control life-threatening bleeding has failed. i.e. — Combat Action Tourniquet (CAT)

Question 35

Traction

Answer 35

The act of exerting a pulling force on a body structure in the direction of its normal alignment. The most effective way to realign a fracture of the shaft of a long bone.

Question 36

Puncture (Penetration)

Answer 36

A puncture is a wound made by a pointed object such as a nail, knife, or sharp tooth. Puncture wounds often appear to be on the surface, but may extend into the deeper tissue layers. i.e. — accidentally stepping on a nail.

Question 37

Crushing Injury

Answer 37

Trauma caused by a direct crushing force. In addition to the direct tissue damage, the compressive force prevents venous outflow, leading to accumulation of potassium, phosphorus, and myoglobin in the tissues. i.e. — A foot being run over by a vehicle.

Question 38

Amputation (Traumatic Amputation)

Answer 38

The loss of a body part, usually a finger, toe, arm, or leg, that occurs as the result of an accident or injury. i.e. — Accidentally sawing a finger off while using a power tool.

Question 39

Dehiscence

Answer 39

Dehiscence is a partial or total separation of previously approximated wound edges, due to a failure of proper wound healing. The precursor to any Evisceration.

Question 40

Deep

Answer 40

More significant or major. May also refer to a more interior positioning.

Question 41

Fracture

Answer 41

A break, usually in a bone. If the broken bone punctures the skin, it is called an Open or Compound Fracture. Commonly occur because of car accidents, blunt-force traumas, falls, or sports injuries.

Question 42

Needle Gauges

Answer 42

Most Common EMS Needle Gauges: • 14 G — Orange (very large) • 16 G — Gray (large) • 18 G — Green (common) • 20 G — Pink (common) • 22 G — Blue (medium) • 24 G — Yellow (small) • 26 G — Purple (very small)

Question 43

Emesis

Answer 43

Vomiting / Vomitus The oral eviction of gastrointestinal contents, due to contractions of the gut and the muscles of the thoracoabdominal wall. This is somehow different from regurgitation which has been defined as egression of gastric contents to the mouth effortlessly.

Question 44

Regurgitation

Answer 44

A backward flowing, as in the return of solids or fluids to the mouth from the stomach or the backflow of blood through a defective heart valve.