UMEM Educational Pearls

·      Explosions can cause a complex series of injuries, which may include subtle or delayed findings.  Repeated evaluations, such as serial abdominal exams, may be required.

·      Blast injuries are divided into 4 categories:

o   Primary blast injuries: Injury from blast wave over-pressure. Found in gas filled structures (ear, lung, hollow organs)

o   Secondary blast injuries: Injury from thrown objects (primarily penetrating trauma, but may blunt)

o   Tertiary blast injuries: Injuries from patient being thrown by blast wave (blunt trauma)

o   Miscellaneous (quaternary) blast injuries: Injuries from other causes, such as burns, crush injuries, rhabdomyolysis, and toxic chemicals.

·      The most common primary blast injury is tympanic membrane rupture.

 

University of Maryland Section for Global Emergency Health

Author: Jon Mark Hirshon

References

http://emergency.cdc.gov/masscasualties/blastessentials.asp