A patient sustained a crush injury after being struck with a baseball bat in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. Assessment shows bruising to that area with instability noted to the rib cage. The EMT's highest concern regarding this injury should be:

Question

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The location of the injury is suggestive of injury to the spleen, which is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. The instability of the rib cage indicates the severity of the injury, which can potentially cause rupture of the spleen. Rupture of the spleen can be life-threatening due to excessive bleeding and requires immediate medical attention. While fractured ribs and abdominal contusion can also be present, the risk of spleen injury takes priority in this scenario. Abdominal evisceration is not likely in this case as there are no signs of external wounds or protrusions of abdominal organs.

A Patient Sustained a Crush Injury After Being Struck with a Baseball