TRAUMA FISDAP [2026] | VERIFIED SOLUTIONS | UPDATED
ACTUAL | STEP-BY-STEP EXAM PREPARATION
• If you see a deformed steering column in a MVC... what will the pt represent
with? -✓✓ANSWER: Bruised neck, bruised chest. Sternal or rib fracture, flail chest,
myocardial contusion, *pericardial tamponade, pneumo/hemothorax, aortic tear.
• If you see a deformed dashboard in a MVC... what will the pt represent with? -
✓✓ANSWER: Bruised abdomen, bruised knee, misplaced kneecap. Ruptured
spleen, liver, bowel, diaphragm. Fractured patella, dislocated knee, *femoral
fracture, dislocated hip.
• If you see the rear end of the vehicle is damaged in a MVC... what will the pt
represent with? -✓✓ANSWER: Secondary anterior injuries, esp if the pt wasn't
restrained. "Wiplash" injuries, *coup contrecoup injury.
• Phases of Deceleration -✓✓ANSWER: 1) Deceleration of the vehicle, occurs
when the vehicle strikes another object & comes to a stop. 2) Deceleration of
occupant, which starts during sudden braking & continues through the whole
crash. 3) Deceleration of internal organs, that consist of internal organs that
continue forward momentum until they're stopped by anatomical restraints. 4)
Secondary collisions, which occur when a vehicle occupant is hit by objects
moving within the vehicle (loose objects). 5) Additional impacts, that the vehicle
may receive when it is hit by a second vehicle or is deflected into another.
• Velocity -✓✓ANSWER: "Speed kills"- causes more damage than mass.
• Seat Belt Use -✓✓ANSWER: All arguments against seat belt use are unfounded.
,• Airbag Injuries -✓✓ANSWER: Common injuries include abrasions to the face,
chest and arms. Minor corrosive effects can occur because of the cornstarch on
the airbag, and it may irritate the skin.
• Down and Under Pathway -✓✓ANSWER: Occupant slides under the steering
wheel or the dash. The knees hit the dashboard, and transmit energy up the leg,
to the femur/pelvis. If the feet are locked in place, it can cause femur fractures.
• Up and Over Pathway -✓✓ANSWER: Chest hits the steering wheel, head hits the
windshield and anterior portion of the throat hits the top of the steering wheel.
Can cause significant head and neck injuries.
• Head on Impact in Motorcycle Crashes -✓✓ANSWER: Head on impact-
motorcycle strikes another object and stops its forward motion, while the rider
continues forward motion until stopped by outside force. This causes the rider to
go over the handlebars, which causes femur fractures, and tib fractures.
• Angular Impact in Motorcycle Crashes -✓✓ANSWER: The motorcycle strikes an
object, or another vehicle at an angel so that the rider sustains direct crushing
injuries to the lower extremity between the object and motorcycle.
• Motorcycle Crashes -✓✓ANSWER: With any motorcycle crash, the helmet
should be removed carefully if airway management techniques cannot be
performed with the helmet in place or the helmet doesn't fit properly on the
riders head.
• Pedestrian Injuries -✓✓ANSWER: Most pedestrian injuries occur at an
intersection, at night. First, the pedestrian is hit in the lower extremities with the
cars bumpers. Second, the pedestrian is thrown on the top of the car (resulting in
, brain injuries, and pelvic fractures. Third, the pedestrian hits the ground or some
other object after rolling off the top or the side of the vehicle.
• Waddell Triad -✓✓ANSWER: Refers to the pattern of automobile pedestrian
injuries in children and people of short stature; 1) bumper hits the pelvis/femur
instead of the knees, 2) the chest & abdomen hit the grill or low on the hood of
the car (sternal & rib fractures), 3) the pt's face hits the hood, then flies back, and
hits the ground.
• Fall Severity Factors -✓✓ANSWER: 1) Height- determines the velocity of the fall.
A fall greater than 15 feet or 2.5-3 times the pt's height will have a greater injury
& higher rate of death. 2) Position- children usually land on their heads (more
mass), and adults tend to try to land on their feet, cause spinal injuries "Don Juan
Syndrome or Lovers Leap". 3) Surface- Snow vs. Concrete.
• Blunt Trauma -✓✓ANSWER: Refers to injuries in which the tissues are not
penetrated by an external object.
• Penetrating Trauma -✓✓ANSWER: Involves a disruption of the skin and
underlying tissues in a small, focused area. Most common cause of penetrating
trauma- GSW.
• Stab Wounds -✓✓ANSWER: Severity of the stab wound depends on the
anatomic area involved, depth of penetration, blade length and angle of
penetration.
• GSW -✓✓ANSWER: The most important factor for the seriousness of a gunshot
wound is the type of tissue through which the projectile passes. Tissues of high
elasticity like muscle, is better able to tolerate stretch, rather than the liver.
ACTUAL | STEP-BY-STEP EXAM PREPARATION
• If you see a deformed steering column in a MVC... what will the pt represent
with? -✓✓ANSWER: Bruised neck, bruised chest. Sternal or rib fracture, flail chest,
myocardial contusion, *pericardial tamponade, pneumo/hemothorax, aortic tear.
• If you see a deformed dashboard in a MVC... what will the pt represent with? -
✓✓ANSWER: Bruised abdomen, bruised knee, misplaced kneecap. Ruptured
spleen, liver, bowel, diaphragm. Fractured patella, dislocated knee, *femoral
fracture, dislocated hip.
• If you see the rear end of the vehicle is damaged in a MVC... what will the pt
represent with? -✓✓ANSWER: Secondary anterior injuries, esp if the pt wasn't
restrained. "Wiplash" injuries, *coup contrecoup injury.
• Phases of Deceleration -✓✓ANSWER: 1) Deceleration of the vehicle, occurs
when the vehicle strikes another object & comes to a stop. 2) Deceleration of
occupant, which starts during sudden braking & continues through the whole
crash. 3) Deceleration of internal organs, that consist of internal organs that
continue forward momentum until they're stopped by anatomical restraints. 4)
Secondary collisions, which occur when a vehicle occupant is hit by objects
moving within the vehicle (loose objects). 5) Additional impacts, that the vehicle
may receive when it is hit by a second vehicle or is deflected into another.
• Velocity -✓✓ANSWER: "Speed kills"- causes more damage than mass.
• Seat Belt Use -✓✓ANSWER: All arguments against seat belt use are unfounded.
,• Airbag Injuries -✓✓ANSWER: Common injuries include abrasions to the face,
chest and arms. Minor corrosive effects can occur because of the cornstarch on
the airbag, and it may irritate the skin.
• Down and Under Pathway -✓✓ANSWER: Occupant slides under the steering
wheel or the dash. The knees hit the dashboard, and transmit energy up the leg,
to the femur/pelvis. If the feet are locked in place, it can cause femur fractures.
• Up and Over Pathway -✓✓ANSWER: Chest hits the steering wheel, head hits the
windshield and anterior portion of the throat hits the top of the steering wheel.
Can cause significant head and neck injuries.
• Head on Impact in Motorcycle Crashes -✓✓ANSWER: Head on impact-
motorcycle strikes another object and stops its forward motion, while the rider
continues forward motion until stopped by outside force. This causes the rider to
go over the handlebars, which causes femur fractures, and tib fractures.
• Angular Impact in Motorcycle Crashes -✓✓ANSWER: The motorcycle strikes an
object, or another vehicle at an angel so that the rider sustains direct crushing
injuries to the lower extremity between the object and motorcycle.
• Motorcycle Crashes -✓✓ANSWER: With any motorcycle crash, the helmet
should be removed carefully if airway management techniques cannot be
performed with the helmet in place or the helmet doesn't fit properly on the
riders head.
• Pedestrian Injuries -✓✓ANSWER: Most pedestrian injuries occur at an
intersection, at night. First, the pedestrian is hit in the lower extremities with the
cars bumpers. Second, the pedestrian is thrown on the top of the car (resulting in
, brain injuries, and pelvic fractures. Third, the pedestrian hits the ground or some
other object after rolling off the top or the side of the vehicle.
• Waddell Triad -✓✓ANSWER: Refers to the pattern of automobile pedestrian
injuries in children and people of short stature; 1) bumper hits the pelvis/femur
instead of the knees, 2) the chest & abdomen hit the grill or low on the hood of
the car (sternal & rib fractures), 3) the pt's face hits the hood, then flies back, and
hits the ground.
• Fall Severity Factors -✓✓ANSWER: 1) Height- determines the velocity of the fall.
A fall greater than 15 feet or 2.5-3 times the pt's height will have a greater injury
& higher rate of death. 2) Position- children usually land on their heads (more
mass), and adults tend to try to land on their feet, cause spinal injuries "Don Juan
Syndrome or Lovers Leap". 3) Surface- Snow vs. Concrete.
• Blunt Trauma -✓✓ANSWER: Refers to injuries in which the tissues are not
penetrated by an external object.
• Penetrating Trauma -✓✓ANSWER: Involves a disruption of the skin and
underlying tissues in a small, focused area. Most common cause of penetrating
trauma- GSW.
• Stab Wounds -✓✓ANSWER: Severity of the stab wound depends on the
anatomic area involved, depth of penetration, blade length and angle of
penetration.
• GSW -✓✓ANSWER: The most important factor for the seriousness of a gunshot
wound is the type of tissue through which the projectile passes. Tissues of high
elasticity like muscle, is better able to tolerate stretch, rather than the liver.
