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

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The presence of intact skin and evidence of blunt trauma (bruising) suggests a chest injury caused by blunt trauma, specifically a possible rib fracture with associated instability and crepitus. The patient's difficulty and painful breathing further support this diagnosis. It is unlikely to be a pulmonary injury caused by penetrating trauma as there is no evidence of an open wound or impaled object. Similarly, there is no indication of acceleration forces causing a chest wall injury.

A 27-Year-Old Male Was Involved in an Altercation and Was