Penetrating trauma is an
injury that occurs primarily by an object piercing the skin or entering a
tissue of the body. The severity of the injury is determined largely by the
velocity of the object that enters the body. High-velocity objects are usually
projectiles such as
bullets from high-powered or
assault rifles. Bullets from
handguns and
shotguns are classed as medium-velocity projectiles. Low-velocity items, such as
knives, are usually propelled by a person's hand, and usually do damage only to the area that is directly contacted by the object. In addition to causing damage to the tissues they contact, medium- and high-velocity projectiles cause a cavitation injury: as the object enters the body, it creates a pressure wave which forces tissue out of the way, creating a cavity that can be much larger than the object itself. The tissues soon move back into place, eliminating the cavity, but the cavitation frequently does considerable damage first. Cavitation can be especially damaging when it affects delicate tissues such as the
brain, as occurs in
penetrating head trauma.
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