SIGNS OF BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA PORTABLE

His only complaint is extreme pain to his left chest. His blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg, his pulse is 90 beats/min, and his oxygen saturation is 97% on room air.

He is a 79-year-old man who has come in after a fall from standing and is complaining of rib pain.

SIGNS OF BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA PORTABLE

Again, pneumothorax sounds likely as you wait for the portable x-ray you wonder if a bedside ultrasound could facilitate making the diagnosis.Ī third patient then walks into triage. On exam, the patient has decreased breath sounds on the right side.

Her blood pressure is 120/70 mm Hg, her heart rate is 85 beats/min, and the pulse oximeter reads 97% on room air. The second patient is the unrestrained 27-year-old female passenger from the same accident, with a chief complaint of chest pain, difficulty breathing, and shortness of breath. You are concerned for a pneumothorax but wonder what else could explain his abnormal vital signs. His blood pressure is 102/54 mm Hg, his heart rate is 112 beats/min, and the pulse oximeter reads 92% on room air. The patient has severe right-sided chest pain with moderate respiratory distress. The first patient that arrives is an unrestrained 23-year-old male driver. The dispatcher tells you that the patients are 5 minutes away. You are about to start a busy Monday afternoon shift when you hear a radio call from EMS for a high-speed motor vehicle crash. Finally, a discussion is provided related to airway and ventilation management to assist in the timing and type of interventions needed to maintain oxygenation. Management controversies presented include the limitations of needle thoracostomy using standard needle, chest tube placement, and chest tube size. Utilization of decision rules for chest x-ray and computed tomography are discussed, along with the emerging role of bedside lung ultrasonography. This review focuses on the diagnosis, management, and disposition of patients with blunt injuries to the ribs and lung. The majority of blunt chest injuries are minor contusions or abrasions however, life-threatening injuries, including tension pneumothorax, hemothorax, and aortic rupture can occur and must be recognized early. Ultrasound Of A Normal Versus An Injured Lungįigure 5. Pneumothorax On Chest X-Ray With Deep Sulcus Signįigure 4. Pneumothorax On Chest X-Ray And Computed Tomographyįigure 2. The Battle Score For Prediction Of Complications From Rib Fractureįigure 1. Estimated Number Of Chest CTs Needed To Cause 1 Radiation-Induced Cancer

Mechanisms Predictive Of Significant Thoracic Injury Differential Diagnosis In Blunt Chest Trauma Risk Management Pitfalls In Managing Blunt Chest TraumaĬlinical Pathway For Imaging Patients With Blunt Chest Trauma.

Signs of blunt force trauma