A 27-year-old male was involved in an altercation and was struck in the ribs with a baseball bat. Assessment reveals intact skin with noted bruising to the right lateral chest. When palpating this area, pain, instability, and crepitus are all observed. The patient also complains of difficult and painful breathing. The EMT would recognize:

Question

A) thoracic injury secondary to penetrating trauma.
B) chest injury caused by blunt trauma.
C) pulmonary injury caused by penetrating trauma.
D) chest wall injury caused by acceleration forces.

Answer 1

B