Trauma Terminology Flashcards
head-on impact (motorcycle)
over the handlebars
injury caused by head-on impact (motorcycle)
- head and neck trauma
- compression injuries to the chest and abdomen
- if feet remain on footrests during impact, mid-shaft femur fractures, perineal injuries
perineal injuries
“any damage to the female external genitalia”
angular impact (motorcycle)
rider is often caught between motorcycle and second object
angular impact injuries (motorcycle)
- crush type injuries
- open fractures to the femur, tibia, fibula
- fracture/dislocation of malleolus
malleolus
“bony protuberance on either side of the ankle”
laying motorcycle down injuries
- massive abrasions (road rash): treat as you would a burn
- fractures to the affected side
pediatric patients when hitting vehicle
- tend to face oncoming vehicle
injuries of pediatric patients when hitting vehicle
- frontal impact (above knee/pelvis)
- initial impact (femur and pelvic injuries, internal hemorrhage)
- secondary impact (thrown backwards, head and neck flexing forward)
- third impact (thrown downward onto ground)
adult patients when hitting vehicle
- turn away from vehicle
- lateral or posterior impacts
injuries of adult patients when hitting vehicle
- initial impact (bumper striking lower legs (lower leg fractures))
- secondary impact (hits hood/windshield (femur, pelvis, thorax, spin fractures))
- third impact (thrown to ground (hip and shoulder injuries, deceleration injuries, fractures/hemorrhage))
thorax
“the area of the body between the neck and the abdomen”
deceleration injuries
“a traumatic impact injury to the body that occurs when a moving object suddenly stops or slows down”
down and under pathway of frontal impact (car crash)
travels downward into the vehicle seat and forward into the dashboard or steering column
injuries of down and under pathway (frontal impact on car crash)
- knees becoming leading part of body (upper legs absorb most of impact - knee dislocation, patellar fracture, femoral fracture, fracture or posterior dislocation of hip, fracture of acetabulum, vascular injury and hemorrhage)
- chest wall hits steering column or dashboard, head and torso absorb energy - tamponade, cardiac contusion, pneumothorax)
injuries of up and over pathway (frontal impact of car crash)
- body strikes the steering wheel (ribs and underlying structures absorb momentum - rib fractures, ruptured diaphragm, hemo/pneumothorax, pulmonary contusion, cardiac contusion, tamponade, myocardial rupture, aortic aneurysm)
- if head strikes windshield first, suspect cervical fracture (axial loading injury))
lateral impact of car crash
- vehicle is struck from the side (“T-bone collision”)
injuries of lateral impact of car crash
- fracture of clavicle, ribs, or pelvis
- pulmonary contusion
- ruptured liver or spleen (depending on side involved)
- head and neck injury
pulmonary contusion
“bruise to the lungs”
- “causes bleeding and swelling”
injuries of rotational impact of car crash
produces same injuries as commonly found in head-on and lateral crashes
injuries of rollover crash
ejection, may have several types of injuries
rear end impact of car crash
vehicle struck from behind
injuries of rear end impact of car crash
back and neck injuries
- hyperextension
injuries of primary blast
injuries to ears, lungs, CNS, eyes, GI tract
danger of primary blast
pressure wave
danger of secondary blast
flying debris
injuries of secondary blast
blunt, penetrating, and lacerating injuries
danger of tertiary blast
patient is thrown and injured by impact on ground or other objects
another name for first degree burns
superficial
injuries of first degree burns
- reddened skin
- pain at burn site
- involves only epidermis, no blistering
- heals spontaneously in 2-3 days
another name for second degree burns
partial thickness
injuries of second degree burns
- intense pain
- white to red skin
- blistering, moist-mottled skin
- involves epidermin and dermis
mottled skin
“a skin condition that causes irregular patches of discoloration to form a marble-like pattern across the skin”
another name for third degree burns
full thickness
injuries of third degree burns
- dry, leathery skin (white, dark brown, or charred)
- painless
- all dermal layers/tissues may be involved
injuries of fourth degree burns
- involvement of muscle and bone
- charred appearance
- painless
rules of 9’s (adult)*
used to assess size of burn for adults
rules of 9’s (pediatric)*
used to assess size of burn for children
glottis
“the middle part of larynx; the area where the vocal cords are located”
signs of inhalational injury above glottis
- the upper airway “normalizes” the temp of the inspired air
- however, sustains the impact of the superheated air
- facial burns
- signed nasal or facial hair
- “sooty” sputum
- hypoxemia
- stridor
- red mucus membranes
- grunting respirations
signs of inhalational injury below glottis
- steam inhalations more likely to reach lower airways (has 4,000 times the heat carrying capacity than dry air)
- wheezes
- crackles or rhonchi
- productive cough
- hypoxemia
- bronchial spasm
carbon monoxide
odorless, tasteless gas
- produces false pulse oximetry reading
carbon monoxide poisoning
- cherry red skin only presents at levels above 40% (late sign)
- “multiple people feeling ill in same residence/building”
- nausea/vomiting
- headache
- decreased LOC
- weakness
- tachypnea
- tachycardia
management of CO poisoning
high flow, high concentration oxygen
acid burn
burning process lasts 1-2 minutes
- causes coagulation
coagulation
“the process by which blood changes from a liquid to a gel, forming a blood clot”
alkalis burn
burning process lasts minutes to hours
- causes liquefaction necrosis
liquefaction necrosis
“type of necrosis which results in a transformation of the tissue into a liquid viscous mass”
toxic inhalation*
- synthetic resin combustion
- cyanide and hydrogen sulfide
- systemic poisoning (more frequent than thermal inhalation burn)
systemic poisoning
“toxic effects may occur at multiple sites [of body]”
necrosis
“cell death”
