Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft Tissue Injuries

Abrasion • Scrape • no active bleeding • ex: skinned knee

Laceration • Cut • abbrev: LAC

Picture on next slide!

Contusion • bruise

Avulsion • Tissue forcibly torn from body • ex: dog bite

Near-amputation • Body part still attached by tendon or ligament

Amputation • Body part torn off • AKA: above-the-knee amputation

TRAUMA • General term meaning injury

Penetrating Trauma • Sharp object forced into skin • Ex: stabbing, pencil in hand

Impaled Object • Object still stuck in body • don’t remove!!!!

Blunt Trauma • Body struck with hard object • ex: hit with baseball

Evisceration • Exposure of intestines due to abdominal injury

Tx of Evisceration • Cover with vaseline coated gauze and then cover with tin foil.

GSW • Gun shot wound • look for entrance and exit wounds

Bleeding Control

Bleeding • Arterial: spurting bright red blood • Venous: oozing darker red blood

Tx of Bleeding • Apply direct pressure • don’t remove dressings--just apply more on top

Tx of Bleeding • Elevate above level of heart • use pressure points if necessary

Tx of Bleeding • Use tourniquets only as LAST resort!!!!

Burns

First Degree Burn • Superficial burn • involved epidermis only • redness, mild swelling, pain

First Degree Burn • Sunburn • brief contact with hot object/steam

Second Degree Burn • Partial Thickness burn • injury to epidermis & dermis • blisters form • most painful burn

Second Degree Burn • Excessive sun exposure • sunlamp • artificial radiation • hot or boiling liquid • fire

Third Degree Burn • Full Thickness Burn • most severe • involves all layers of skin + underlying tissue

Third Degree Burn • appears white or charred • destroys nerve endings

Third Degree Burn • Fire • prolonged contact with hot object • electricity • hot/boiling liquid

Treatment for Burns

Burns: TX • Remove source of heat • cool affected area

Burns: TX • relieve pain • treat for shock • prevent infection

RULE OF 9s

Head 9% Arm 9% Trunk 36% Groin 1% Leg 18%

Soft Tissue Injuries