Short answers, pulled from the story.
Blunt trauma is a physical injury caused by forceful impact that does not break the skin or create an open wound. Penetrating trauma, by contrast, occurs when an object pierces the skin and enters body tissue. Blunt trauma causes damage through compression and deceleration forces acting on internal structures.
Blunt abdominal trauma is the most common form, representing 75 percent of all blunt trauma cases. Of those abdominal injuries, 75 percent occur in motor vehicle crashes.
Blunt trauma to the head and severe blood loss are the most likely causes of death from blunt force traumatic injury. Traumatic brain injury is specifically the most common cause of death in patients under the age of 25.
Only 10 to 15 percent of thoracic trauma cases require surgery. The majority of patients with blunt chest injury are managed with conservative measures such as airway maintenance, oxygen support, chest tube insertion, and pain control.
Criteria defined in 2011 require four conditions: no intoxication, no abnormal blood pressure or pulse rate, no abdominal pain or tenderness, and no blood in the urine. A patient must meet all four criteria to be considered low-risk for safe discharge.
Studies have demonstrated improved outcomes in traumatic brain injury patients with a systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 120 mmHg. Avoiding low blood pressure is considered critically important in the management of blunt cranial trauma.