Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Blunt force trauma refers to injury caused by an impact with a blunt object, which can lead to various types of injuries, including ruptures, bruising, and fractures. Each of these injury types is a result of the force applied to the body without breaking skin or causing an open wound.

Ruptures can occur when a blunt force impacts an organ or tissue with enough intensity, leading to tearing or breaking apart. Bruising signifies damage to blood vessels under the skin, which occurs from the forceful impact that causes bleeding without breaking the skin's surface. Fractures are breaks in bone that can result from the same kind of direct trauma.

In contrast, penetrations represent a different type of injury mechanism typically associated with weapons or sharp objects that can pierce the skin and underlying tissues. Such injuries are initiated by objects with sharp points, leading to open wounds and potential complications such as infection. Thus, penetrations are classified separately from blunt force trauma, making them the correct choice in this context.