Mechanism of injury and trauma - types of trauma

Question 1

Blunt trauma

Answer 1

Large surface area of skin is impacted by a larger object.
- May not penetrate the skin.

Question 2

Result of blunt trauma

Answer 2

Injury pattern will be dispersed and less localised.

Question 3

Examples of blunt trauma

Answer 3

• RTC
• Struck with a blunt object (bat)
• Falls from significant height
• compression (crush injury)

Question 4

Penetrative trauma

Answer 4

• objects entire energy is concentrated on one small area of skin, breaching it.
  The object will enter the body and create a more localized injury pattern.

Question 5

Examples of penetrative trauma

Answer 5

• Stabbings
• Gunshot wounds
• Impailments

Question 6

The commonality between the two types of trauma is the impact of energy involved in the trauma being sustained.