Missile & Blast Injury

Question 1

What is a missile injury?

Answer 1

A wound caused by sharp projectiles like shrapnel or bullets that pierce the skin.

Question 2

What is a blast injury?

Answer 2

An injury caused by pressure waves from explosions affecting internal organs.

Question 3

Name four causes of missile and blast injuries.

Answer 3

Explosives, firearms, military conflicts, terrorist attacks.

Question 4

What is permanent cavitation in missile injury?

Answer 4

Direct tissue destruction along the missile’s path.

Question 5

What is temporary cavitation in missile injury?

Answer 5

Tissue damage from shockwave expanding rapidly around missile path.

Question 6

How are missile injuries classified by velocity?

Answer 6

Low, medium, and high velocity based on projectile speed.

Question 7

What is the speed range for low-velocity projectiles?

Answer 7

Less than 340 m/s.

Question 8

What is ballistic trauma?

Answer 8

Trauma from high-velocity projectiles like bullets.

Question 9

What are the components of ballistics?

Answer 9

Internal, external, and terminal.

Question 10

What are examples of missile movement?

Answer 10

Rotation, tumbling, and oscillation.

Question 11

What organs are affected by primary blast injuries?

Answer 11

Lungs, ears, gastrointestinal tract.

Question 12

What is ‘blast lung’?

Answer 12

Pulmonary barotrauma caused by a blast wave.

Question 13

What is a common ear injury from blast?

Answer 13

Tympanic membrane rupture.

Question 14

What causes secondary blast injuries?

Answer 14

Projectiles and debris from the explosion.

Question 15

What are tertiary blast injuries?

Answer 15

Blunt trauma from the body being displaced by the blast wave.

Question 16

What are quaternary blast injuries?

Answer 16

Burns, toxic exposure, crush injuries, and exacerbation of conditions.

Question 17

What are common symptoms of blast lung?

Answer 17

Chest pain, dyspnea, cough.

Question 18

What symptoms suggest tympanic membrane rupture?

Answer 18

Hearing loss and tinnitus.

Question 19

What are brain injury symptoms in blast trauma?

Answer 19

Headache, dizziness, confusion.

Question 20

What symptoms indicate abdominal trauma?

Answer 20

Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting.

Question 21

What protocol is followed in initial trauma care?

Answer 21

ATLS (Advanced Trauma Life Support).

Question 22

What does ‘A’ stand for in ATLS primary survey?

Answer 22

Airway + C-spine stabilization.

Question 23

What is done during ‘B’ in the ATLS survey?

Answer 23

Breathing assessment - look, feel, and listen.

Question 24

What is ‘C’ in the ATLS protocol?

Answer 24

Circulation and cardiac status.

Question 25

What does 'D' check in ATLS?

Answer 25

Disability - neurological status and deformities.

Question 26

What is done during 'E' in ATLS?

Answer 26

Exposure in a controlled environment.

Question 27

What is the purpose of 'F' in ATLS?

Answer 27

Fluid resuscitation and electrolyte balance.

Question 28

What investigations are used for blast injuries?

Answer 28

CBC, FBS, EUCr, imaging, audiometry, biopsy for MCS.

Question 29

What does the chest X-ray show in blast lung?

Answer 29

Bilateral hilar infiltrates in a 'butterfly' pattern.

Question 30

What are potential complications of missile and blast injuries?

Answer 30

Loss of parts, blindness, deafness, PTSD, contractures.