In the United States, injuries account for 36.9 million visits to hospital emergency departments annually. Injury can result from the body's exposure to various types of energy.
According to Joan Fortney, manager of trauma/EMS at Washington County Hospital, the type of wound varies depending on injuring agent and the length of exposure to the energy. The effects of the injury also are dependent on the individual's location, age, sex and underlying health status.
"It is important to determine the type or mechanism of the injury," Fortney said. "This information can assist medical personnel to determine the extent and nature of the injuries." Injuries from blunt trauma often are caused by a combination of forces such as deceleration, shearing, crushing and compression. These type of injuries are often more serious as the extent of injury is often less obvious initially. Common causes of blunt trauma injuries include motor vehicle crashes, falls, assaults, and contact sports.
