Blunt Trauma Wounds
Outline
Overview of blunt trauma wounds
Types of blunt trauma wounds: Brief explanations of type and wound dating methods
• Abrasions
• Contusions
• Lacerations
• Fractures of the skeletal system
Overview
Wounds are injuries that result in skin breakage or any other body tissues. In this perspective, wounds may be classified based on the type of object that causes the wound. A blunt force may cause an open or closed wound. Blunt trauma or non-penetrating trauma refers to body parts experiencing physical trauma because of injury, impact, or physical attack. Blunt force trauma wounds fall into four categories; lacerations, abrasions, contusions, and fractures (DiMaio & DiMaio, 2001).
Types of Blunt Force Trauma Wounds
Abrasions …show more content…
A wound can be superficial or deep based on the force and surface roughness that caused the abrasion. For example, an individual who slides on an asphalt road will have a deeper wound compared to a person who slides over a patch of grass. The skin damage is often not deeper than the epidermis. It is often less severe compared to a laceration and if bleeding occurs it is very minimal. Mild abrasions are known as scrapes or brushes, while an abrasion that results in the removal of all skin layers refers to an avulsion. Injuries because of abrasion occur if moving exposed skin comes into contact with a rough surface leading to the removal of the epidermis upper layers. Occasionally, the direction of force may also be established. The direction the body was travelling when the injury occurred may be established if the skin is heaped up on one edge. For instance, a wound with margins together with raised skins means that the force originated from the opposite …show more content…
The trauma damages the capillaries and venules allowing for blood to hemorrhage into the adjacent interstitial tissues. Contusions are not to be confused with lesions that often appear similar, which can be differentiated based on the diameter or causation. For example, a lesion such as an ecchymosis is more than 1 cm and it is caused by blood cutting through the tissue planes settling in areas far away from the trauma site. The internal bleeding initiated by the non-penetrating trauma does not break through the skin. Generally, it is easier for children and the elderly to bruise more easily due to the loose, delicate skin and loss of subcutaneous supportive tissue in the latter former (DiMaio & DiMaio 2001). Due to this they may have numerous bruises on the legs and arms not necessarily caused by blunt force trauma. Also, contusions occur easily in females especially if they are overweight, because of the increased subcutaneous fat. It is equally important to note that the greater the striking force the larger the contusion (Bhattacharya, 2012). However, there is no conventional way of determining the exact amount of force required to produce a
Outline
Overview of blunt trauma wounds
Types of blunt trauma wounds: Brief explanations of type and wound dating methods
• Abrasions
• Contusions
• Lacerations
• Fractures of the skeletal system
Overview
Wounds are injuries that result in skin breakage or any other body tissues. In this perspective, wounds may be classified based on the type of object that causes the wound. A blunt force may cause an open or closed wound. Blunt trauma or non-penetrating trauma refers to body parts experiencing physical trauma because of injury, impact, or physical attack. Blunt force trauma wounds fall into four categories; lacerations, abrasions, contusions, and fractures (DiMaio & DiMaio, 2001).
Types of Blunt Force Trauma Wounds
Abrasions …show more content…
A wound can be superficial or deep based on the force and surface roughness that caused the abrasion. For example, an individual who slides on an asphalt road will have a deeper wound compared to a person who slides over a patch of grass. The skin damage is often not deeper than the epidermis. It is often less severe compared to a laceration and if bleeding occurs it is very minimal. Mild abrasions are known as scrapes or brushes, while an abrasion that results in the removal of all skin layers refers to an avulsion. Injuries because of abrasion occur if moving exposed skin comes into contact with a rough surface leading to the removal of the epidermis upper layers. Occasionally, the direction of force may also be established. The direction the body was travelling when the injury occurred may be established if the skin is heaped up on one edge. For instance, a wound with margins together with raised skins means that the force originated from the opposite …show more content…
The trauma damages the capillaries and venules allowing for blood to hemorrhage into the adjacent interstitial tissues. Contusions are not to be confused with lesions that often appear similar, which can be differentiated based on the diameter or causation. For example, a lesion such as an ecchymosis is more than 1 cm and it is caused by blood cutting through the tissue planes settling in areas far away from the trauma site. The internal bleeding initiated by the non-penetrating trauma does not break through the skin. Generally, it is easier for children and the elderly to bruise more easily due to the loose, delicate skin and loss of subcutaneous supportive tissue in the latter former (DiMaio & DiMaio 2001). Due to this they may have numerous bruises on the legs and arms not necessarily caused by blunt force trauma. Also, contusions occur easily in females especially if they are overweight, because of the increased subcutaneous fat. It is equally important to note that the greater the striking force the larger the contusion (Bhattacharya, 2012). However, there is no conventional way of determining the exact amount of force required to produce a