On palpating the chest wall of a trauma patient, you feel subcutaneous crepitus (emphysema), which is a sign that:
a. air has leaked into soft tissue.
b. a fracture underlies the injury.
c. a foreign body is present.
d. there is vascular obstruction.
A
Crepitus is a sign of air leakage into soft tissue. Crepitus in soft tissues is caused by air that has penetrated the area as a result of injury; it is also referred to as subcutaneous emphysema. Bony crepitus is a grating or grinding sensation caused by fractured bone ends or joints rubbing to-gether. A foreign body could obstruct the patient's airway, producing stridor, or a bark may be heard with an obstructed airway.
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