Blunt trauma

physical trauma caused to a body part, either by impact, injury or physical attack

Blunt trauma is a kind of trauma that usually results from being hit by something dull and firm (like a car, a fist, or the ground). It is also called blunt force trauma. This is different from penetrating trauma (also called an insult) where an object, such as a bullet or knife enters the body.

Common types of blunt force trauma include:[1]

  • Being in a car accident (this is the most common cause of blunt force trauma)
  • Being hit by another person with a fist or with something that is not sharp, like a bat
  • Falling and hitting the ground (like falling down the stairs)
  • Jumping or falling from a high place

What kinds of problems can blunt force trauma cause?

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If blunt force trauma is not too severe, it may cause only cuts (lacerations), bruises (contusions), and scrapes (abrasions). However, bad blunt force trauma can cause many serious problems, like:[1]

References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 Batalis, Nicholas; Denton, Scott (2013-12-04). "Forensic Autopsy of Blunt Force Trauma". Medscape. Retrieved 2015-12-01.