Trauma Flashcards
traction splints
used to counterbalance the pulling force of the muscles to reduce pain and prevent bleeding; immobilizes fractured limb to prevent further injury; used for femur fractures
rigid splints
made of plastic, wood, cardboard to hold injured body part in a comfortable position
compartment syndrome
after injury- bleeding and inflammation in the surrounding tissues causes pressure increases outside the blood vessels; excessive pressure can cut off blood supply to that area, making those cells hypoxic
contusion
bruising
neurogenic shock
also called neurogenic hypertension; results from injury to spinal cord that interupts nerves; without nerve imput, arteries dilate–>hypotensive, normal HR, skin is warm and flushed, disruption of autonomic pathways within spinal cord; different from hypovolemic shock because pulse/HR is normal rather than elevated and skin is warm and pink
subdermal hematoma
buildup of blood between dura and arachnoid layers from veins rupturing under dura; slow bleeding; pressure builds and pushes on brain, may not see symptoms for a few days
epidermal hematoma
bleeding between skull and dura layer; emergency situation; usually skull fractures are seen as well because only occurs with large force to head; rapid arterial and venous bleeding
laceration
penetration wound
basilar skull fracture symptoms
raccoon eyes, Battle’s sign, CSF leakage
Cushing reflex
a reflex used when intracranial pressure is high after head injury to relieve this pressure: late sign of high ICF; leads to Cushing’s triad: increased blood pressure, decreased heart rate, irregular breathing
meninges
layers of tissue protecting the brain; dura, arachnoid, pia
consensual reflex
when you shine a light in one eye, both eyes should constrict, not just eye that was hit with light
nonpurposeful reactions to pain
indicates deep state of unresponsiveness; 2 types: flexion-flex arms across chest and extend legs, and extension- arms down at side, extend legs, arch back
potential signs of brain herniation
significant dilation of pupils more than 4mm, asymmetrical pupils, unresponsiveness to painful stimuli
priaprism
involuntary erection seen in males who undergo spinal shock
pericardial tamponade
fluid buildup in pericardial space within sac around the heart; puts pressure on the heart which decreases ventricular filling- decreases CO; Aka Beck’s triad: JVD, weak pulse, drop in blood pressure (Paradoxus); treatment: pericardiocentesis- put a needle in and suck air out
Types of closed soft tissue injuries
Contusion (bleeding of dermal blood vessels), hematoma, crush injury
Types of open soft tissue injuries
Laceration, penetration/puncture, abrasion (capillary bleeding on surface), crush injury, avulsion (loose flap of skin), amputation
DCAP BTLS
deformities, contusions, abrasions, puncture burns, tenderness, lacerations, swelling
multiple casualty incident (MCI)
not enough resources to deal with the patient load from an emergency; open MCI if easy access to situation site; closed if situation site is difficult to get to and get patients out of
active situation/incident
the force that caused the disaster is still going on; there is danger to anyone in the area- including first responders
closed situation
forces that led to the accident is contained/exhausted
3 stages of triad
- triage of patients, label with tag
- treatment of patients after moving to safe area
- Only if needed- treatment at field hospital created on site
Color scheme- Triage
Red- critical condition, needs treatment immediately, but with treatment has good chance of survival; Yellow- delayed/urgent, no signs of shock but may die if no treatment soon; Green- no major injuries; Black- dead, no signs of life/ability to save them
