Trauma key terms Flashcards
Deformities
What it is: Abnormal shape or size of a body part, often resulting from trauma or congenital conditions.
Risk factors: Trauma, genetic conditions, congenital abnormalities.
Hallmark signs and symptoms: Visible abnormality, pain, swelling, limited function.
Treatment: Depends on the cause; may include immobilization, surgery, and physical therapy.
Contusions
What it is: Bruising caused by blunt force trauma leading to bleeding under the skin.
Risk factors: Falls, blows, accidents.
Hallmark signs and symptoms: Discoloration, swelling, pain, tenderness.
Treatment: Rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE), and pain management.
Abrasions
What it is: Superficial wound caused by scraping or rubbing of the skin.
Risk factors: Falls, accidents, friction injuries.
Hallmark signs and symptoms: Redness, raw appearance, minor bleeding.
Treatment: Clean the wound, apply antiseptic, and cover with a sterile dressing.
Punctures
What it is: Deep wound caused by a sharp object piercing the skin.
Risk factors: Accidents, animal bites, sharp objects.
Hallmark signs and symptoms: Small entry wound, bleeding, possible deep tissue injury.
Treatment: Clean the wound, tetanus shot if necessary, and cover with a sterile dressing and possible antibiotics.
Burns (Minor, Moderate, Severe)
What it is: Tissue damage caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation.
Risk factors: Exposure to heat sources, chemicals, electrical outlets, and sun exposure.
Hallmark signs and symptoms:
Minor: Redness, pain, no blisters.
Moderate: Blisters, pain, swelling.
Severe: White or charred skin, numbness, severe pain, shock.
Treatment: Cool the burn, cover it with a sterile non-stick dressing, pain management, and seek medical attention for moderate to severe burns.
Tenderness
What it is: Pain or discomfort when an area is touched.
Risk factors: Trauma, infection, inflammation.
Hallmark signs and symptoms: Pain upon palpation, possible swelling or redness.
Treatment: Depends on the cause; may include rest, ice, pain management, and medical evaluation.
Swelling
What it is: Enlargement of a body part due to fluid accumulation.
Risk factors: Injury, infection, inflammation, chronic conditions.
Hallmark signs and symptoms: Enlargement, pain, redness, warmth.
Treatment: Rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE), and treat the underlying cause.
Compartment Syndrome
What it is: Increased pressure within a muscle compartment, leading to compromised blood flow and tissue damage.
Risk factors: Trauma, fractures, crush injuries, tight casts or bandages.
Hallmark signs and symptoms:
Pain,
pallor (pale skin tone)
paresthesia (numbness feeling)
pulselessness (faint pulse)
paralysis (weakness with movements)
Treatment:
Relieve external causes: Remove or loosen any constricting dressings, casts, or bandages. Split casts and dressings completely.
Hydration: Maintain mean arterial pressure and prevent hypotension.
Elevation: Place the affected limb at the level of the heart to improve blood flow and prevent hypo-perfusion.
Oxygen: Provide supplemental oxygen through the nose or mouth.
Crush Syndrome
What it is: systemic effect that can occur when part of the body is compressed for an extended period of time, causing tissue damage and hypoxic conditions.
Risk factors:
prolonged compression of any kind (1-6 hours)
involvement of muscle mass
compromised local circulation
Hallmark signs and symptoms:
Acute renal failure
Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Arrhythmias
Hypovolemic shock
Sepsis
Treatment: Stop bleeding by applying direct pressure. Cover the area with a wet cloth or bandage. Then, raise the area above the level of the heart, if possible.
Hemothorax
What it is: Accumulation of blood in the pleural cavity.
Risk factors: Chest trauma, surgery, lung or pleural disease.
Hallmark signs and symptoms: Chest pain, shortness of breath, decreased breath sounds on the affected side, shock.
Treatment:
Chest tube insertion to drain blood
Administer oxygen
Reassess the patient’s airway, breathing, and circulation
Consider applying an Asherman chest seal
Tension Pneumothorax
What it is: Air accumulation in the pleural cavity causes increased pressure on the lungs and heart.
Risk factors: Chest trauma, lung disease, mechanical ventilation.
Hallmark signs and symptoms: JVD, tracheal deviation, diminished/absent breath sounds, chest pain, shortness of breath, hypotension
Treatment: Needle decompression, positive pressure ventilation
Subdural Hematoma
What it is: serious condition where blood collects between the skull and the surface of the brain
Risk factors: Head trauma
Hallmark signs and symptoms: Headache, confusion, altered mental status, loss of consciousness, drowsy feeling
Treatment: craniotomy
Splenic Injury
What it is: Trauma to the spleen
Risk factors: Motor vehicle accidents, falls, sports injuries.
Hallmark signs and symptoms: Life threatening bleeding, Left upper quadrant pain, referred pain to left shoulder (Kehr’s sign), confusion
Treatment: Control bleeding
Primary Blast Injury
What it is: Injuries caused by the direct effect of blast overpressure on tissues.
Risk factors: Explosions, military combat, industrial accidents.
Hallmark signs and symptoms: Blast lung (difficulty breathing, hemoptysis), eardrum rupture, abdominal hemorrhage, concussion.
Treatment: Supportive care, oxygen therapy, addressing specific injuries (e.g., surgery for abdominal injuries).
Secondary Blast Injury
What it is: Injuries caused by flying debris and bomb fragments.
Risk factors: Explosions, military combat, industrial accidents.
Hallmark signs and symptoms: Penetrating trauma, lacerations, fractures.
Treatment: Wound care, surgical intervention, supportive care.
