Kinematics of Trauma

Learning Objectives Define energy in the context of injury

production. Describe relationship of injury and energy

exchange. List phases of assessment and their

characteristics Describe the mechanical principles of trauma Identify types of injuries and their kinematics

Kinematics of Trauma It can help explain the type of injury, outcomes and

injury combinations. It indicates the need for additional diagnostic workup

and reassessment. It is related to the type of injuring force and subsequent

tissue response. The effect of injury depends on personal and

environmental factors. Crash: is the energy exchange that occurs when an

energy force (usually solid object) impacts the human body.

Phases of Assessment and Management

Precrash phase: include the events that precede the incident

E.g.: alcohol ingestion, past Hx, drugs,

Phases of Assessment and Management

Crash phase: begins at time of impact between one moving object and a second object.

Considerations include: The direction of energy exchange The amount of energy exchanged The effect of force on the patient

Phases of Assessment and Management

Postcrash phase: begins as soon as energy from crash is absorbed.

Information gathered about crash and precrash is used to manage patient.

General Principles To understand the effects of force on body it

is important to understand two components (Energy and Anatomy)

Laws of Energy and Motion: Newton’s first law of motion Conservation of energy

Force = mass x acceleration (deceleration)

Factors Affecting Energy Exchange between Solid Object and Human Body

Tissue Density Air filled organs Fluid filled organs Solid organs

Contact area Cavitation

Mechanical Principles Blunt Trauma Penetrating Trauma

Blunt Trauma Forces involved are shear (changing speed)

and compression (squeezing). Multiple injuries are common with blunt

trauma They are more life threatening than

penetrating injuries It includes MVCs, falls, assaults and contact

sports, blast injuries

Types of MVCs Frontal impact Rear impact Lateral impact Rotational impact Rollover

Phases of pedestrian injuries The initial impact to the legs and sometimes

the hips. The torso onto the hood of the vehicle. The victims falls off the vehicle and onto the

ground, usually head first, with possible cervical spine trauma.

Falls kinematics assessment An estimation of height of the fall The surface on which the victim landed

(compressibility) Part of body struck first

Sports injuries Mechanisms associated are too numerous General principles are the same as for MVCs

Blast injuries Primary injuries: caused by the pressure wave

of the blast Secondary injuries (fragmentation) Tertiary injury: caused by hitting with object

or object propelled by explosion.

Penetrating Trauma Injury produced by foreign object penetrating

the tissue Penetrating objects are:

Low Energy Weapons i.e. knife High Energy Weapons i.e. firearms

Severity of injury is related to the structure damaged

Mostly contaminated

Factors Affecting Severity of Penetrating Injury Profile: initial size of penetrating object. Tumble: angle or direction of entry Fragmentation