Trauma is a serious injury or
shock
to the body caused by a physical force such as violence or an accident. The injury may be complicated by psychiatric, behavioral, and social factors, causing the disability to be greater than just physical injuries. This condition almost always requires care from healthcare professionals.
Some causes of trauma include:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Falls
- Drowning
- Gunshots
- Fires and burns
- Stabbing
- Other physical assault
- Fire, flood, earthquake, or other natural disaster
- Other shocking experience
The following factor increases your chances of developing trauma.
If you experience one or more of these symptoms, don’t assume it is caused by trauma. These symptoms may be caused by other, less serious health conditions. The symptoms associated with trauma vary, and depend on the type of injuries you have suffered. If you experience any one of them, see your physician.
- Multiple injuries
- Airway obstruction
- Breathing problems
- Bleeding
- Heart failure
- Lung failure
- Vital organ damage
- Central nervous system injury
- Sepsis
- Multiple organ failure
In addition, the following psychological effects may occur in response to trauma:
- Anxiety, numbness, dissociation and/or inappropriate calmness
- Anger and frustration
- Acute stress disorder (ie, distress, memories, avoidance, and numbing in the months after trauma)
- Depression
- Post-traumatic symptoms and/or disorder
- Avoidance and public anxiety
A professional team at the hospital will assess your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam.
Tests may include the following:
- Blood pressure measurement–to monitor blood pressure
- Ventilatory monitoring–breathing tests to determine whether breathing needs to be assisted by a ventilator or supplemental oxygen
- Electrocardiogram
–to monitor heart rate
- Chest examination
- Abdomen and pelvis examination
- Examination of the extremities
- Neurologic examination
- Chest radiograph–to view the organs and structures within the test
- Abdominal ultrasound
–to view the organs and structures within the abdomen
- CT scan
–to view the organs and structures within the abdomen, pelvis, chest, and/or head
- Spine x-ray–to determine if there is damage to the spine
- Angiography
–to identify arterial bleeding
- Other tests, depending on the nature of the injuries
- Assessment for psychological symptoms
Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment usually includes the following:
Resuscitation and/or Stabilization
--During the initial physical exam, doctors will perform necessary procedures and surgeries to restore normal vital signs, control blood loss, and restore organ function.
Further Surgeries and/or Treatments
--Once you have been stabilized, you will likely need further surgeries and treatments. The surgeries and treatments you will undergo depend on the nature of your injuries.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
--If you have ongoing psychological symptoms in response to the trauma, psychotherapy may be a component of your rehabilitation. In cognitive-behavioral therapy, a psychotherapist will help a trauma victim discuss his/her feelings, return to normal activities, cope with anxiety, deal with anger, overcome sleep problems, and treat associated depression.
To help reduce your chances of trauma, take the following steps:
- Avoid putting yourself at risk for an accident, violence, or other physical trauma.
