Question

in a motor vehicle collision, which injury pathway is most likely to increase the patient's morbidity and mortality?

Answer 1

Head and traumatic brain injuries are the most likely pathway to increase morbidity and mortality in a motor vehicle collision.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a motor vehicle collision, the injury pathway most likely to increase the patient's morbidity and mortality is head and traumatic brain injuries. These injuries can lead to immediate death and disability, and can also result in additional complications such as bleeding and infections. Approximately 30% of all injury-related deaths in the United States are caused by head injuries, with automobile and motorcycle accidents being prominent causes.

Answer 2

In motor vehicle collisions, traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries, like a spinal cord hemisection causing hemiplegia, most significantly increase a patient's morbidity and mortality due to their severe and multifaceted impacts.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a motor vehicle collision, the injury pathway most likely to increase the patient's morbidity and mortality is head and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). These injuries can lead to immediate death or long-term disability, with potential complications like bleeding and infections. They are caused by various incidents, with falls being the most common, but significant numbers result from automobile and motorcycle accidents. For example, injury to the brain-case portion of the skull can produce various types of fractures, which may lead to bleeding inside the skull and further damage to the brain.

In cases of collisions where the spinal cord is involved, such as a motorcyclist suffering from a hemisection, the patient might experience hemiplegia, which is paralysis on one side of the body. The sensory deficits associated with such an injury are complex and vary based on which tracts within the spinal cord are damaged. Generally, the side of the body with motor function loss will also experience a loss of position sense and vibration, while the opposite side will often show a loss of pain and temperature sensation.