Blunt trauma, caused by a foreign object striking the body without penetrating the skin, is the leading cause of trauma-related death. It includes injuries such as concussions, fractures, and compressions. The force of impact and speed are important factors in the severity of the injury. Symptoms may not appear until hours after the accident, making imaging and tests important. Automobile accidents are the leading cause of blunt trauma, but it can also result from sports injuries, assaults, or explosions. Protective measures such as seat belts, airbags, helmets, and safety protocols can reduce the risk of injury.
Blunt trauma is the result of a foreign object striking the body without penetrating the skin. It is the leading cause of death from trauma. The term “blunt trauma” is an umbrella term that includes injuries such as concussions, fractures, and compressions. The term itself refers to how the injury occurred, rather than the nature of the injury itself.
Often, the only symptom of this type of injury is minor internal bleeding that may not show symptoms until hours after the accident, which is why first responders and emergency room personnel tend to be very scrupulous with imaging. and tests even when the patient does not feel hurt. If left untreated, a seemingly minor blunt injury could become serious very quickly.
The leading cause of blunt trauma is automobile accidents, but it can also result from sports injuries, assaults, or explosions. The vast majority are caused by car-to-car accidents where the driver hits the steering wheel or dashboard. Concussions to the head and abdomen are the leading causes of trauma-related death, and minor cases may go undiagnosed for lack of external symptoms.
Blunt trauma injuries are rooted in the fundamental laws of physics, especially those concerning kinetic energy. As Sir Isaac Newton, a 17th-century physicist, argued, “A body in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by an external force.” In other words, a car will keep going until something stops it, whether it’s a brake or another car. The force equation states that:
Force = Mass x Acceleration
Multiplying the acceleration of an object by its mass gives the impact force absorbed by the object which stops it. It also emphasizes the importance of speed in the severity of the resulting blunt trauma. Because the kinetic energy equation is:
Kinetic Energy = (Mass x Velocity2) / 2,
doubling the weight of the moving object doubles the impact, but doubling the speed quadruples the impact.
According to Newton, “the force which sets an object in motion must be absorbed before the object comes to rest”. In the case of blunt trauma, it is the body that absorbs this force. The absorption of this energy is what causes cells in the body to compress to the point of crushing, which is called a compression injury. Shear injuries occur when an organ and its attachment mechanism decelerate at different rates, causing strain that can lead to detachment. The kidneys and spleen are commonly subjected to shear forces. A strong impact can put so much pressure on an organ that it can literally burst, a condition called an overpressure injury. The lungs and bladder are particularly vulnerable to overpressure injuries.
Cars equipped with seat belts, airbags and crumple zones reduce the risk of blunt trauma injuries, and defensive driving reduces the risk of accidents. Protective sports clothing such as helmets, chest and shin guards are also effective in preventing these types of injuries, and workers in hazardous professions should follow safety protocol to avoid the possibility of injury.
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