Can a person die from blunt impact trauma?

Blunt force trauma is when the body is hit with an object that is blunt or not sharp, with enough force to cause significant damage. Blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) is the most common example of this injury as it comprises 75% of all blunt trauma injuries.

The severity of blunt trauma injury is mainly determined by the object’s speed, velocity, size, and weight. The damage can range from a tiny bruise to a compression type injury and, in the worst-case scenario, result in ruptured organs, rapid internal bleeding, and ultimate death.

Blunt Force Head Trauma

The brain can be damaged by trauma. When a hard object strikes the head, the cerebral cortex can become bruised. Suppose the force of the blow causes a whiplash-like circumstance. In that case, the injury can occur to the nerve cells (axonal injury) deep in the white matter of the brain injury results from the direct contact between the object and the head.

The most severe damage to the head occurs from the initial direct impact with the blunt object. This type of injury could cause a traumatic brain injury (TBI). This is a severe injury that can cause life-long health issues and even death.

 Blunt Abdominal Trauma

There are two primary physical mechanisms at play at the injury to intra-abdominal organs: compression and deceleration.

Compression occurs from a direct blow, such as a punch, or compression against a non-yielding object such as a seat belt or steering column. This force may deform a hollow organ, increase its intraluminal or internal pressure, and lead to rupture.

Deceleration causes stretching and shearing at the points where mobile contents in the abdomen, like the bowel, are anchored. This can cause tearing of the mesentery of the bowel and injury to the blood vessels that travel within the mesentery. When blunt abdominal trauma is complicated by ‘internal injury,’ the liver and spleen are usually involved, followed by the small intestine. It could also lead to death.

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