Blunt trauma facts for kids

Blunt trauma is a kind of trauma that usually results from being hit by something dull and firm (like a car, a fist, or the ground). It is also called blunt force trauma. This is different from penetrating trauma where an object, such as a bullet enters the body.

Common types of blunt force trauma include:

• Being in a car accident (this is the most common cause of blunt force trauma)
• Being hit by another person with a fist or with something that is not sharp, like a bat
• Falling and hitting the ground (like falling down the stairs)
• Jumping or falling from a high place

What kinds of problems can blunt force trauma cause?

If blunt force trauma is not too severe, it may cause only cuts (lacerations), bruises (contusions), and scrapes (abrasions). However, bad blunt force trauma can cause many serious problems, like:

• Head and brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Crushing of the airways, making it difficult or impossible for air to be breathed in
• Damage to organs (for example, collapsed lungs)
• Broken bones
• Severe bleeding, which can be internal (inside the body)

Images for kids

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  A depiction of flail chest, a very serious blunt chest injury

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  This table depicts mechanisms of blunt thoracic trauma and the most common injuries from each mechanism

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  An example of a chest tube

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  A CT scan showing an epidural hematoma, a variety of intracranial bleeding commonly associated with blunt trauma to the temple region

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  A fracture, an injury to the skeletal component of the upper extremity.

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  The Ankle-Brachial Index is depicted here. Note: ultrasound enhancement of pulses is not required but may be helpful.