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Brain Injury<\/strong> Spinal Injury<\/strong> Pneumothorax<\/strong> DVT PE<\/strong> Orthopedic<\/strong> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Explore online continuing education courses from John below:<\/p>\n A Therapist’s Evidence-Based Approach to Acute and ICU Care Rehab<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n COVID-19: Clinical Interventions for Therapy<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Dry Needling Evidence-Based Concepts and Essential Skills<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Early Mobility in Acute Care<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Fall Risk Assessment in Acute Care<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Medically Complex Patient Care<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Pharmacology in the ICU<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Latest Ethical Standards in Physical Therapy<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Trauma Care and Recovery in Acute Care<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/l_new.local\/wp-content\/uploads\/Beach-JG.jpg\")
<\/a>Summertime! A season for many of us that indicates a time to relax, to unwind, and to spend more time with family and friends. Anecdotally, the beginning of summer also includes an increase in the number of trauma events as many across the country are out and about. These trauma events will lead to various combinations of injuries and recovery periods, including minor sprains and strain, fractured femurs and ribs, and severe brain injury. The combination of these patient presentations places additional responsibility on healthcare providers to provide a comprehensive treatment plan for efficient and effective recovery. This care starts with the trauma team providing stabilizing and lifesaving care, specialty surgeons stepping in to help with orthopedic, cardiovascular, and neurological care, exceptional care from our nursing colleagues, and early intervention from the rehabilitation team.<\/p>\n<\/a>To deliver optimal care the rehabilitation team should have a firm understanding of how a patient on trauma service is initially assessed and also be aware of latent\u00a0patient presentations that may develop. These latent or occult presentations are typically masked by the initial primary pathology, may not be related to direct injury, and often include contributing factors of advanced age (>50 years old), alcohol consumption, history of coagulopathy, and a polytrauma event. Many of these occult injuries or presentations fall into the following categories with key indicators of a potential injury:<\/p>\n
– Mental status changes
– Nausea and vomiting
– Difficulty breathing<\/p>\n
– Loss of muscle tone and strength
– Bowel and bladder dysfunction
– Paresthesia<\/p>\n
– Thoracic insult or injury, including rib fracture
– Shortness of breath, elevated heart rate, and respiratory rate
– Increased potential with the female population<\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong>
– Significant calf pain
– Edema
– Venous distention<\/p>\n
– Dyspnea
– Pleural pain
– Increased respiratory rate
– Cough and\/or hemoptysis
– Fatigue<\/p>\n
– High-velocity fractures (falls, MVC
– Pain with movement of the extremity
– Increased pain with weight-bearing<\/p>\n<\/a>These injuries may not present until the patient begins to participate in mobility and therapeutic interventions. Subsequently, it is essential that any therapist providing care to these patients is aware of the potential of these occult presentations and be aware of the typical signs and symptoms for each category. The care of trauma patients is a challenging situation, but ultimately tremendously rewarding as you assist these patients in their recovery process.<\/p>\n