Kinematics of Trauma Flashcards Preview

2018 VU Trauma > Kinematics of Trauma > Flashcards

Flashcards in Kinematics of Trauma Deck (30)
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1
Q

What is kinematics?

A
  • It describes the motion of objects without consideration of how that motion occurred.
2
Q

How does kinematics describe motion?

A
  • Type of motion
  • Location of motion
  • Magnitude of motion
  • Direction of motion
3
Q

What does understand the kinematics of a car crash or fall allow us as paramedics to understand or grasp an understanding or idea of?

A
  • Enables prediction of injury patterns.
4
Q

What is Velocity?

A
  • The rate of change of positions. You require the speed and direction of the object to figure out your Velocity.
5
Q

What are the 4 Physical laws that are relevant in trauma?

A
  • Newton’s First Law
    o An object, either at rest or in motion, will remain in that state until acted upon.
  • Conservation of Energy
    o Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only the state can be changed
  • Newton’s Second Law of Motion
    o Net Force (F) = mass (M) x acceleration (a)
  • Kinetic Energy
    o KE = half the mass (1/2 M) x velocity Squared (v2)
6
Q

What do these laws of physics mean to a paramedic?

A
  • A paramedic should be aware of them for trauma jobs as you consider the forces involved, what a larger car traveling at higher speed does to a patient, compared to a smaller or lighter car traveling at lower speeds.
7
Q

What three types of impacts occur doing an MVA were energy is transferred?

A
  • Vehicle collides with object
  • Occupant collides with the inside of the vehicle
  • Organs collide with the inside of the occupants
8
Q

What forces are associated with the above triad?

A
  • Blunt and shearing forces applied to the body during rapid deceleration.
9
Q

What factors alter the type of injury a patient may suffer in an MVA.

A
  • The type of collision
  • The position of the occupant and types of objects that they are likely to strike
  • The application of vehicle fitted restraints or the deployment of air bags
10
Q

What are the 5 groups of mechanism in an MVA?

A
  • Head on (frontal) Impact
  • Later impact
  • Rear end impact
  • Rotational impact
  • Rollover
11
Q

In what direction can an unrestrained passenger travel in car in relation to the dashboard?

A
  • Down and under it (knees are the leading part of the body)

- Up and over (Ribs and thorax are leading part of the body)

12
Q

What are potential injuries from down and under type forces?

A
  • Femoral and hip fractures and associated haemorrhages

- Knee and lower leg fractures and associated haemorrhage

13
Q

What are potential injuries from up and over type forces?

A
  • Rib fracture and hemopneumothorax
  • Pulmonary or cardiac contusion
  • Abdominal organ and major vessel rupture and laceration
  • Traumatic head and spinal injuries
14
Q

When does lateral impact occur?

A
  • When a vehicle is hit on its side, also referred to as a T-bone.
15
Q

What are some considerations when attending a lateral impact?

A
  • Has the vehicle remained in place after initial impact?
  • How many passengers are in the car?
  • How much intrusion has occurred into the cabin?
  • Has ejection occurred? Either through empty baby seats or other passengers?
16
Q

What are possible patterns of injury included in a later impact?

A
  • Compression of pelvis, abdomen and torso
  • Rib fracture and pulmonary contusion
  • Organ rupture. In particular spleen/liver
  • Pelvic fracture
  • Head and neck injuries
17
Q

Does a standard seatbelt provide restraint in the case of a lateral impact?

A
  • No
18
Q

What occurs when a vehicle is struck from behind?

A
  • Rapid acceleration occurs
19
Q

What are possible injuries of a rear impact?

A
  • Spinal injuries especially hypertension of the C- Spine.
20
Q

What type of injuries occur in a rotational Impact?

A
  • Occupants suffer injuries that are common in frontal and lateral impacts.
21
Q

What injuries may be sustained in a roll over impact?

A
  • Occupants are thrown around within the vehicle.

- People may sustain multiple system injures associated with all mechanism of MVA.

22
Q

What else may occur during a roll over incident?

A
  • Other objects within the car may turn in to projectiles and occupants may also be ejected allowing further injuries to be sustained.
23
Q

What are common types of Deceleration and compression injuries?

A
  • Head injuries

- Thoracic injuries and abdominal

24
Q

What are the forces involved in the deceleration injuries?

A
  • Shearing forces that may leave the PT presenting perfectly unharmed but the forces have caused a significant organ to fail or become detached or rupture.
25
Q

What is the likely hood of death for those patients ejected from vehicles?>

A
  • 6 times the risk of death.
26
Q

What types of impacts can a seatbelt provide protection from?

A
  • Forward and rear. However, they are not always able to prevent injuries.
27
Q

What do airbags do?

A
  • They absorb energy slowly, they also deploy and deflate within 0.5 seconds.
28
Q

In what types of crashes are frontal airbags of little to no use?

A
  • Lateral and rollover collisions
29
Q

What potential injuries are airbags likely to cause?

A
  • Abrasions, foreign bodies to face/eyes or allergic/respiratory reactions and burns.
30
Q

What is the cause of whiplash?

A
  • The head extending backward from the torso in the initial stage of rear impact the being thrown forward.