Question

Your patient is a 55-year-old male who was found in the parking lot behind a tavern. He states that he was assaulted and robbed by three individuals. He is complaining of being "hit in the face and kicked and punched in his ribs and stomach." Your examination reveals contusions and swelling around both eyes, bleeding from the nose, a laceration of his upper lip, and multiple contusions of the chest, abdomen, and flanks. Which of the following should cause the greatest concern regarding the prehospital care of this patient?

A. Potential internal injuries
B. The presence of any defensive wounds the patient may have sustained
C. The swelling around his eyes, which may be reduced by applying a cold pack
D. Getting a description of the assailants

Answer 1

The greatest concern in the prehospital care of the patient is the potential for internal injuries (option A), which are the most life-threatening and require immediate attention over other concerns such as defensive wounds, swelling, or obtaining a description of the assailants.

Step-by-step explanation:

The greatest concern regarding the prehospital care of a patient with multiple traumatic injuries sustained during an assault, such as contusions, swelling, and a laceration, is the potential for internal injuries. These can pose immediate and serious risks to the patient's health, including internal bleeding and damage to internal organs, which may not be immediately apparent on external examination but can rapidly become life-threatening. While the other concerns listed, such as defensive wounds, swelling around the eyes, and getting a description of the assailants, are also important, they do not take precedence over the assessment and management of potential internal injuries.

Applying cold packs may help reduce swelling around the eyes, but this is of lower priority compared to internal injuries. Defensive wounds could provide clues to the nature of the assault but do not alter the immediate medical management. Getting a description of the assailants is important for legal reasons but is not relevant to the acute clinical care of the patient.