Skeletal trauma can range from severed limbs to skull fractures, with blunt force trauma and musculoskeletal injuries also common. Treatment may include physical therapy, and pediatric trauma requires different diagnostic and treatment measures. Child abuse may be investigated in cases of unexplained skeletal trauma.
There are numerous types of skeletal trauma that can occur in all age groups, including severed limbs and bone fractures. Blunt trauma is another type of skeletal trauma that often occurs when the body is struck by a heavy object with great force. When skeletal muscle injuries occur, this is also a type of skeletal trauma, usually classified as a musculoskeletal injury.
A very serious type of skeletal trauma is a skull fracture. This type of injury can cause bleeding or swelling in the brain, which can be life-threatening. It can also cause brain damage or coma. When a skull fracture is suspected, a doctor will typically do a computed tomography (CT) scan. This allows the doctor to see detailed images within the injury site. A depressed skull fracture occurs when a chipped portion of bone protrudes and presses against brain matter.
Facial fractures that do not involve the skull are another type of skeletal trauma. Fractures of the orbital bone can occur with blunt force trauma. Sometimes called an orbital rim fracture, this occurs when the bone surrounding the eye socket is fractured. Some symptoms of an orbital bone fracture include a black eye or discoloration and possible bleeding within the eye itself. Typically, a CT scan is done to determine the extent of the injury.
Serious accidents involving the amputation or partial amputation of a finger, foot, or limb are types of trauma that can cause massive bleeding. Often this type of injury is the result of accidents involving machinery. In some cases, the surgeon is able to reattach a severed body part. Restoring full function without any kind of nerve damage may or may not be successful.
Musculoskeletal injury (MSI) is a type of trauma that can result in spinal cord injury. This can cause paralysis if the spinal cord is severed or severely damaged. Other types of musculoskeletal trauma involve the dislocation of a joint or bone, typically through injury. Trauma from MSI could also cause nerve damage or tendon injuries. Trauma such as facet impingement or a glenoid labrum tear are other forms of injury that affect the musculoskeletal system.
In many cases, a recommended course of treatment for some types of musculoskeletal injury includes physical therapy. This could include heat therapy or exercises specially designed to help strengthen injured and affected areas. Sometimes isometric or isokinetic exercises are prescribed for the patient with skeletal injuries.
Pediatric skeletal trauma can be more complex due to differences in structure. The biological structure of a child is constantly developing; therefore, treatment or diagnostic measures will be different from those of an adult. Skeletal trauma such as bone fractures in children typically heal faster than adult trauma. When a sudden or unexplained case of skeletal trauma occurs in a child, child abuse can be investigated.
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