A patient arrives in the emergency department with a flail chest after a motor vehicle accident (MVA) in which the patient's chest hit the steering wheel. The nurse realizes this injury is due to:
1. Blunt trauma from internal forces caused by acceleration
2. Blunt trauma from external forces caused by deceleration
3. Penetrating trauma from external forces caused by deceleration
4. Penetrating trauma from internal forces caused by acceleration
2
Rationale 1: Internal forces refer to stress or strain created within the body, not from outside forces. Acceleration forces are when the increasing speed hits someone who is stationary, such as a car hitting a person crossing the street.
Rationale 2: Blunt trauma leaves the skin intact and damage to underlying tissue, such as broken ribs. External forces are created by the mass of the object and velocity of movement outside the body and the weight of the person being pushed forward after the car hit something. Deceleration is the force that stops or decreases the velocity of the moving victim, such as the chest hitting the steering wheel.
Rationale 3: Penetrating wounds have an open wound and flail chests are intact at the skin level.
Rationale 4: Penetrating wounds have an open wound and flail chests are intact at the skin level. Internal forces refer to stress or strain created within the body, not from outside forces.
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