The patient was a driver in a lateral impact motor vehicle collision.During the assessment of his chest,the EMT notes a segment of the chest wall moving in the opposite direction from the rest of the chest.Which of the following BEST describes this finding?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This finding is known as paradoxical movement, where a segment of the chest wall moves in the opposite direction during inspiration and expiration than the rest of the chest. It is often seen in patients with flail chest, where multiple adjacent ribs are fractured, causing instability of the chest wall. A flutter segment is not a recognized medical term. Tension pneumothorax and intercostal retractions would present with other characteristic signs and symptoms.

The Patient Was a Driver in a Lateral Impact Motor