A young female patient was walking on a 7-foot-high retaining wall when she stumbled and fell. She impacted a concrete sidewalk surface with her left foot and left hand. Your assessment reveals ecchymosis, deformity, and edema to both the left foot and left hand. Based on the concept of injury caused by indirect force, where else should the EMT look for injury?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Injury caused by indirect force often results in injury to other parts of the body not directly impacted. In this case, a fall from a height could lead to an injury to the left hip, especially since the patient landed on her left foot and hand. The left ankle and toes are also possible locations for injury, but the left hip is the most likely based on the mechanism of injury. The left fingers may also be injured, but the impact to the left hand may have absorbed most of the force, and the description of the injury suggests more significant damage to the foot.

A Young Female Patient Was Walking on a 7-Foot-High Retaining