Re: MOI photos

[Pete Limbacher <plimbach@u.washington.edu>]

Nick, what I have seen in Seattle is the photos are used to teach residents and paramedic students the why's and wherefore's of the trauma train. Also to think of potential injuries that may not be visible initially from a certain type of trauma. T-bone accidents vs. head-on accidents can present different injury patterns. New, and experienced, residents and paramedic students learn to think about the mechanisms of injury and their potential injuries. The photos are a great teacher from this perspective, not just for scrapbooking. Do they change the medical decisions, probably not, but I am not sure that is what they were intended to be used for.
Just my thoughts on this ongoing thread.

Pete Limbacher RN CCRN
Airlift Northwest
Seattle


On Mon, 2 Jun 2003, Nick Nudell wrote:

> 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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