blastinduced

Blast-induced refers to injuries and effects that result from an explosive detonation. In medical and military contexts, blast-induced injuries may affect individuals exposed to bombs, industrial explosions, or controlled demolitions. The damage produced by a blast can involve multiple organ systems and vary from mild to fatal.

Injury mechanisms are commonly categorized as primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary, and quinary. Primary injuries result from the blast overpressure and shock wave, often affecting air-containing organs such as the ears and lungs. Secondary injuries come from penetrating fragments; tertiary injuries occur when the body is thrown and strikes a surface; quaternary injuries include burns and inhalational or toxic injuries; quinary injuries refer to illnesses from added substances such as chemical or radiological agents.

Clinical features depend on the mechanism and exposure. Ear involvement is common, including tympanic membrane rupture and hearing loss. Thoracic injuries such as pulmonary contusion and pneumothorax may occur; neurological injury including traumatic brain injury can range from concussion to life-threatening injury. External wounds, burns, and ocular injuries may also be present.

Management follows trauma care principles. Initial assessment and resuscitation are followed by targeted evaluations for blast-related injuries, including imaging as indicated. Treatment is supportive and multidisciplinary, addressing airway and breathing, hemorrhage control, wound care, infection prevention, and rehabilitation needs. Specific issues such as TBI, hearing loss, and vision disorders require specialty management and follow-up.

Prevention focuses on protective equipment, appropriate standoff distance, and engineering controls to reduce blast effects. Ongoing research seeks to improve protective materials, understand subclinical blast effects, and optimize long-term outcomes for affected individuals.