Musculoskeletal Injuries
A fractured femur can result in the blood loss of how many liters?
1 Liter
Describe what's happening with a flail chest.
a segment of the chest wall is detached from the thoracic cage
Describe an abdominal evisceration?
occurs when organs protrude through an open wound in the abdomen
A person who experiences a calcaneus fracture after jumping and landing on his feet would most likely experience an accompanying fracture of the ____.
lumbar spine
Which nerve supplies the diaphragm?
the phrenic nerve
A "hip" fracture is actually a fracture of what?
A man called EMS 12 hours after injuring his chest. Your assessment reveals a right sided flail segment, respiratory distress, oxygen saturation of 78%, equal bilateral breath sounds, and normal jugular veins. Would you suspect a pulmonary contusion, pneumothorax, or hemothorax?
pulmonary contusion
Bruising to the right upper quadrant of the abdomen after blunt trauma is most suggestive of injury to what organ?
liver
True or False: An epidural hematoma occurs when there is bleeding between the dura mater and the brain.
False: bleeding between the skull and dura mater
Significant changes in vitals signs will generally occur after an adult acutely loses more than what percentage of his or her total blood volume?
20%
Name the type of fracture that occurs in the growth section of a child's bone and might lead to bone growth abnormalities.
epiphyseal fracture
myocardial contusion
The presence of tachycardia following a significant abdominal injury can indicate what?
shock
What is one basic intervention an EMT can do that may help reduce intracranial pressure?
elevate the head of the bed to 30 degrees
What piece of cartilage is the Adam's apple formed by?
the thyroid cartilage
What is compartment syndrome and how long after an injury does it typically present?
The result of excessive pressure build up secondary to internal bleeding and/or swelling, which decreases blood flow and deprives muscles, tissues, nerves of oxygen. It usually presents 6 to 12 hours post injury.
If a person's tidal volume decreases, but his/her respiratory rate remains the same, will their minute volume be increasing or decreasing?
decreasing
MV = VT + RR
MV = amount of gas inhaled/exhaled from a person's lungs in one minute
VT = amount of air that moved in/out of the lungs in one respiratory cycle
Pain felt by the patient when pressure is removed rather than applied. This is often discovered when the patient is jarred or moved suddenly.
Hyperextension injuries of the spine are most commonly the result of what?
hangings
Where is the mastoid process located?
1 inch posterior to the external opening of the ear
Where should a seat belt be located when properly worn?
below the anterior superior iliac spines of the pelvis and against the hip joints
What is the most critical/definitive treatment for a tension pneumothorax? (Hint: in this particular question, it's not rapid transport)
needle decompression; inserting a needle through the rib cage into the plural space
A football player was struck by another player in the right flank area just below the posterior rib cage. He complains of severe pain and your assessment reveals a small amount of blood in his underwear. You should be most suspicious for what kind of injury?
blunt force injury to the kidney
What is Cushing's Triad and what are the three components of it?
Cushing's Triad indicates increased ICP
- widened pulse pressure (increased systolic)
- bradycardia
- irregular respirations
Coordination of balance and body movement is controlled by what part of the brain?
cerebellum