Re: MOI photos

[Nick Nudell <paramednick@comcast.net>]

We recently received a patient with a compound femur fx and partially
(mostly) amputated arm both with major avulsions. There was some distal
circulation to both extremeties. The patient arrived with needle
decompression to the right chest as well. The patient was A&Ox4 and
immediately was asking 'if he was going to be alright' as if he had a little
cut. He was extremely lucky to have made it to the trauma room, let alone to
be without any major pain. No other significant trauma. The patient was
essentially stable on arrival.

The mechanism was a high speed rollover partial ejection.

With the patient came a couple scene Polaroid's. How did the treatment
change with the pictures? It didn't.

In fact, it was unclear if the patient even had a pneumo on presentation to
the ED, requiring the radiologists opinion. I did not see one myself either.

The other patients who presented from MVCs (several) and the GSWs ( several
again) also did not or would not have had any different treatment from
photos.

I think the photos are great for scrapbooking and 'coolest scene'
discussions but have not seen a difference in treatment because of them
being/not being available. I am interested though to hear of anyone's
experiences that would indicate a patient care benefit from the photos.

Fly Safe.
Nick


____________________________________________
Nick Nudell, NREMT-P, CCEMT-P
California
nudell@prehospitalperspective.net

"Perception is reality" - Wise Old Paramedic





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