Trauma Mechanics and Biomechanics Overview

A type of collision where the impact occurs to the side of the vehicle, but not directly in the center.

A type of collision where the vehicle's back end is hit by another vehicle.

Injury to the neck caused by sudden forceful movement, often from a rear-impact collision.

A type of collision where the vehicle rolls over on its side or roof.

A device that helps prevent the occupant from flying forward in the event of a crash.

A safety feature that deploys in a frontal collision, providing a cushion between the occupant and the steering wheel.

A type of crash involving a motorcycle striking an object head-on.

Protective gear worn by motorcycle riders, such as helmets and abrasion-resistant clothing.

Occurs when a rider is thrown from a motorcycle at high speed and collides with a stationary object, another vehicle, or the road.

A technique used to separate the rider from the motorcycle during a crash, reducing the risk of serious injury.

The rider continues moving forward until stopped by an external force. This can result in serious injuries.

Impacting an object at an angle, causing crushing injuries to the lower extremity.

A pattern of injuries common in children and short adults, where the bumper hits the pelvis, the chest hits the grille, and the head strikes the vehicle and then the ground.

The first impact in a pedestrian collision, where the bumper hits the adult's body.

The third impact in a pedestrian collision, where the body strikes the ground or another object.

The force of gravity pulls a person downwards at 9.8 m/s² during a fall.

A common injury pattern in unrestrained occupants where the occupant slides under the steering wheel or dashboard, causing multiple injuries to the lower extremities, pelvis, and torso.

The occupant's head is the primary point of impact, leading to potential head and cervical spine trauma.

A specific injury pattern in side impact collisions where the hips and chest are directly impacted, potentially causing pelvic fractures, rib fractures, and lung contusions.

A pattern of pelvic injury in side impacts where the pelvis is compressed from the side, leading to a disruption of the pelvic ring.

A severe injury that occurs in the chest when multiple ribs are broken, leading to a paradoxical movement of the chest wall.

A serious condition where the lungs are compressed, leading to difficulty breathing and even respiratory distress.

Injury to the spine caused by compression or shearing forces, often resulting in paralysis or loss of sensation.

Injury to the brain caused by swelling of the brain tissue within the skull, which can lead to increased pressure and potentially death.

The initial assessment of a patient to determine their level of consciousness, airway, breathing, circulation, disability, and exposure. This is the most important step in assessing a patient and determining their priority for treatment.

Evaluating a patient's vital signs, which include pulse, respiration, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, blood glucose, cardiac monitoring, and automatic blood pressure monitoring. This provides vital information about the patient's overall health condition.

A systematic examination of the head, neck, chest (including abdomen and pelvis), extremities, and back, searching for any injuries. It is conducted to identify any signs of injury or trauma.

Any condition or problem that is potentially life-threatening and requires immediate attention. This includes conditions that have a severe impact on the patient's health, such as respiratory distress, cardiac arrest, or major bleeding.

Injuries that occur in multiple body systems or involve two or more different areas of the body. It requires a comprehensive assessment and management strategy.

A system used to evaluate the severity of the injury based on various criteria such as blood pressure, respiration rate, and Glasgow Coma Scale score. This helps determine the patient's priority for treatment and allocate resources accordingly.

Assessing the patient's general well-being through physical examinations, vital signs, and reviewing past medical history. This helps identify any underlying conditions and factors that may influence treatment.

A rapid full-body scan performed while the patient is being transported to the hospital. This helps monitor their condition and identify any changes in their symptoms or vital signs.

A state of abnormally low body temperature, even mild hypothermia can decrease survival rate and contribute to coagulopathy.

A condition where the blood's ability to clot is impaired, leading to excessive bleeding and poor perfusion.

A build-up of acid in the blood, often caused by excessive bleeding and treatments like IV fluids.

A life-threatening combination of hypothermia, coagulopathy, and acidosis often seen in trauma patients.

The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS-COT) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have developed a system to decide which patients need transport to a trauma center.

A Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13 or less, systolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg, or respiratory rate less than 10 or more than 29 breaths/min indicate a need for transport to a trauma center.

Penetrating trauma to head, neck, torso, extremities proximal to elbow or knee, chest wall instability, two or more proximal long bone fractures, crushed/mangled extremity, amputation, pelvic fracture, open/depressed skull fracture, paralysis.

Falls over 20 ft for adults, falls more than 10 ft or two or three times the child's height for children, indicate transport to a trauma center.