Intro to Trauma & Injuries Flashcards
Abrasion
A scraping or rubbing away of a surface.
i.e. — A skinned knee.
Avulsion
Tearing away or separation of body tissue.
May be partial or complete.
i.e. — An individual becoming “de-gloved”.
Bandage(s)
Any material used to hold a dressing in place.
Bandages do no need to be sterile.
Battle Sign
(Postauricular Ecchymosis)
Bruising behind the ears over the mastoid process, generally caused by Basilar Skull Fractures.
May be seen in conjunction with Periorbital Ecchymosis.
Cheyne-stokes
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.
Concussion
Closed head injury without detectable damage to the brain.
Common methods of injury:
— Direct cranial impacts
— Rapid acceleration-to-deceleration
— Blasts and high decibels
Contusion
A bruise.
Dressing
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.
Epistaxis
A bloody nose.
Eviseration
An intestine or other internal organ protruding through a wound in the
abdomen.
A severe condition that derived from Dehiscence.
Flail Chest
3 or more ribs fractured in 2 or more places or multiple rib fractures involving the sternum.
Golden Hour
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.
Hematoma
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.
Hemopneumothorax
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.
Hemothorax
Blood in the Pleural Space (lung membrane cavity) due to a traumatic or non-traumatic cause.
Can develop into a Tension Hemothorax.
Hemorrhage
The condition of bleeding.
i.e. — Cerebral hemorrhaging due to onset stages of stroke.
Hypoperfusion
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.
Hypovolemia
A state of decreased blood volume.
Common causes are:
— Dehydration
— Bleeding
— Vomiting
— Severe burns
— Certain drugs
Ischemia
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.
Laceration
A smooth or jagged cut.
i.e. — Slicing into your hand while cutting food.
Log-roll
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.
Occlusive Dressing
Is an air-and-water-tight trauma dressing.
Used in sucking chest wounds
and neck wounds.
PASG
Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment (PASG).
Military Anti-Shock Trousers.
Paradoxical Motion
The injured portion of the chest wall moves in the opposite direction than
normal.
Seen with flail chest injuries.
Perfusion
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.
Pleural Space
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.
Platinum Ten Minutes
The maximum amount of time after EMS arrival to assess, package and begin transport of the critical trauma patient.
Pneumothorax
Air in the Pleural Space (lung membrane cavity) due to a traumatic or non-traumatic cause.
Can develop into a Tension Pneumothorax.
Posturing
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
Raccoon’s Eyes
(Periorbital Ecchymosis)
Black eyes which can be caused by Basilar Skull Fractures.
May be seen in conjunction with Postaricular Ecchymosis.
Shock
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.
Sprain
A partial or temporary dislocation of the joint.
Partial stretching or tearing of the
supporting ligaments.
Considered to be a partial dislocation.
Superficial
Insignificant or minor.
May also refer to a more anterior positioning.
Tourniquet
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)
Traction
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.
Puncture
(Penetration)
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.
Crushing Injury
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.
Amputation
(Traumatic Amputation)
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.
Dehiscence
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.
Deep
More significant or major.
May also refer to a more interior positioning.
Fracture
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.
Needle Gauges
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)
Emesis
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.
Regurgitation
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.
