A patient arrives in the emergency department with a flail chest after a motor vehicle crash (MVC) in which the patient's chest hit the steering wheel. What should the nurse realize this injury is due to?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

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.
2. Blunt trauma leaves the skin intact and damages 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.
3. Penetrating wounds have an open wound, and flail chests are intact at the skin level.
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.

A Patient Arrives in the Emergency Department with a Flail