Blunt Trauma

What is Blunt Trauma?

Blunt trauma, also known as blunt force trauma, is physical trauma that is caused by a non-penetrating object forcefully striking the body. It can result in ulcerations, abrasions and/or bone fractures.

Causes

Blunt trauma can occur due to many factors, but the most common are:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Falling from heights
• Accidents while playing
• Industrial accidents
• Any sort of kicks and punches during fights
• Sports injuries

Symptoms

The symptoms of blunt trauma vary depending on the force of the object and the site of the injury on your body. If the force of the object is low, the injury will be minor and cause slight bruising.  If its force is high, it may cause severe bone fracture. The symptoms include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Bruises 
• Redness 
• Dizziness
• Vomiting
• Fever

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is mainly done to identify life-threatening conditions and carry out the necessary treatment. This may be done by physical examination of the site of injury and ordering imaging studies if necessary, such as:

• X-ray: Identifies any bone fractures
• CT scan: Uses special X rays that produce clear images of the internal hard and soft tissue structures of the body
• Angiogram: Imaging of blood vessels to detect the presence of any blood clots

Treatment

Treatment is mainly aimed at preventing or restoring blood loss to preserve life. Wound-cleaning and close monitoring of vital signs is sufficient in patients that are not bleeding excessively and who do not show signs of internal injuries. Pain medications and anti-inflammatory medications may also be used as needed to reduce symptoms and speed up recovery. In cases of severe traumatic injury resulting in bone fractures or damage to internal organs, surgical repair or reconstruction may be indicated.