Trauma is a serious injury or shock to the body. It is caused by a physical force such as violence or an accident. The injury may be complicated by psychiatric, behavioral, and social factors. This can cause the disability to be greater than just physical injuries. This condition almost always requires care from healthcare professionals.
Some causes of trauma include:
If you experience one or more of these symptoms, don’t assume it is caused by trauma. These symptoms may be caused by other, less serious health conditions. The symptoms associated with trauma vary, and depend on the type of injuries you have suffered. If you experience any one of them, see your physician.
In addition, the following psychological effects may occur in response to trauma:
A medical team will assess your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done.
Tests may include the following:
Talk with your doctor about the best plan for you. Treatment usually includes the following:
To help reduce your chances of trauma, the CDC and the National Safety Council recommend that you take the following steps:
RESOURCES:
American Academy of Family Physicians
http://familydoctor.org/
Centers for Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/
Emergency Medical Services for Children
http://www.ems-c.org/
National Safety Council
http://www.nsc.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians
http://www.caep.ca/
Trauma Management Group
http://www.trauma.ca/
References:
Fact sheet: trauma, shock, burn, and injury: facts and figures. National Institute of General Medical Sciences website. Available at: http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/factsheets/trauma_burn_facts.html . Accessed October 3, 2006.
Initial evaluation of the trauma patient. emedicine website. Available at: http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3221.htm. Accessed October 3, 2006.
Majou R, Farmer A. ABC of psychological medicine: trauma. British Medical Journal website. Available at: http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/325/7361/426 . Accessed October 16, 2006.
What is trauma? Hartford Hospital website. Available at: http://www.harthosp.org/trauma/trauma.html. Accessed October 3, 2006.
Last reviewed January 2009 by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2007 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.