Module 22: Soft tissue injuries Flashcards
What is barotrauma?
trauma to hollow organs like lungs
What are the three layers of subcutaneous?
fat, fascia, muscle
What are the three layers of the skin, in order?
epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous
children and older people typically have ____ skin
thinner
What sort of trauma might cause a contusion?
Blunt force trauma
What is ecchymosis?
the color of broken blood vessels from a contusion
How might a hematoma differ from a contusion in terms of presentation? How should they be treated?
swelling
splint, ice, cover (if skin is thin). Monitor for distal pulses
Describe the cellular injuries that may occur after crush injuries
increase lactic acid
renal failure
cardiac arrest
What are the five P’s of compartment syndrome?
Pain
Paresthesia (burning/prickling sensation in limb)
Pallor
Paralysis
Pulselessness
what are abrasions?
removal of epidermis
What are lacerations?
Jagged openings/cuts
What are incisions?
More precise cuts, often from a knife or scalpel
What is an avulsion?
detached skin
What is the goal for penetrating trauma?
Stabilizing the object, do not remove
when can you remove a penetrating object?
If pt is in cardiac arrest and object is in dead center of the chest, this way you can perform CPR
When should you stop turning a tourniquet?
when bleeding has stopped and there is no pulse distal to tourniquet
“your pt is showing signs of hypoperfusion” in practical. What should you do?
lay them down, supply O2 (likely done earlier), and cover with blanket
If a pt with an occlusive dressing experiences pressure in chest, what can be done?
lift corner of seal up while pt exhales, then re seal before inhalation (burping)
Describe treatment for an abdominal evisceration
- saline moist dressing
- dry dressing
- occlusive dressing
What are the three places you place an occlusive dressing
neck, chest, and abdomen for eviscerations
Describe the steps of treating a burn
- remove any clothing, jewelry, or rings
- dress the burn
- cover with a burn sheet
What sort of dressings should burns be covered with?
dry, sterile dressings
Moist sterile dressings may be used to augment pain if the born is <= 10%
What are the three types of burns?
superficial
partial thickness
full thickness
How are superficial burns described?
sunburn basically. Top layer of skin
How are partial thickness burns described?
blistering, hair follicle still intact
How are full thickness burns described?
charring
How is the extent of burns determined with the rule of 9’s?
Rule of 9’s
arms are 9 each, legs are 18 each, abdomen is 18, head is 9, back is 18, groin is 1
How is the extent of burns determined with the rule of palm?
palm is 1%, match up with amount of body burned
How is the extent of burns determined with the rule of 9’s in pediatric patients?
infants:
head is 18, abdomen is 18, back is 18, arms are 9 each, legs are 13.5 each
children:
head is 12, abdomen and back are 18, arms are 9, legs are 16.5
What sort of radiation penetrates the skin?
gamma radiation
How might an EMT be exposed to radiation?
through a pt’s clothes
Characteristics of a full thickness burn include all of the following, except
uncontrolled intense pain
fluid loss and infection
muscle and nerve damage
disfigurement
uncontrolled intense pain
What layer of the skin forms a watertight, protective seal for the body?
epidermis
Which of the following open soft-tissue injuries is limited to the superficial layer of the
skin and results in the least amount of blood loss?
avulsion
laceration
incision
abrasion
abrasion
Compared to the entrance wound caused by a gunshot, the exit wound:
is usually larger
closes quickly
bleeds less severely
is often smaller
is usually larger
In addition to external bleeding, the most significant risk that an open soft-tissue
injury exposes a patient to is:
hypothermia
nerve and vessel damage
infection
infection
A closed soft-tissue injury characterized by swelling and ecchymosis is called a(n):
contusion
