What is Trauma? Symptoms and Treatment

Last updated 10 months ago

Trauma occurs when the body is subjected to a shock due to a fall, blow, violence, or accident. These injuries do not only include physical damage—trauma can be exacerbated and complicated by psychiatric, social, and behavioral factors. For this reason, many traumatic injuries can lead to long-term disability that extends far beyond the physical symptoms. At Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center, our emergency medical team works around the clock to help victims of traumatic injuries receive the prompt, quality care that they need to achieve the best possible outcome.

The symptoms of trauma can vary significantly depending on the cause of injury and the situation in which the injury occurred. If you experience any of the following symptoms, consider seeking your doctor’s help:

Multiple injuries to any part of the body
Obstruction of the airway leading to difficulty breathing
Bleeding
Cardiac or respiratory failure
Damage to the body’s vital organs
Injury to the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord
Sepsis, or infection of the bloodstream
Psychological symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, inappropriate calmness, anger, post-traumatic stress disorder, or acute stress problems

The treatment of traumatic injuries will vary from person to person and depend on the type of injury suffered. Based on a variety of factors, the physician will formulate a treatment plan that typically includes the following:

Resuscitation or stabilization
These steps involve restoring healthy body function through minimizing blood loss, normalizing vital signs, and restoring the functioning of any damaged vital organs.
Surgery or medical treatment
After achieving stabilization, the physician may choose to perform surgery or another medical treatment to promote optimal health.
Cognitive and behavioral therapy
Traumatic injuries can lead to ongoing psychological symptoms. Cognitive and behavioral therapy can help to minimize these symptoms.

To reduce your risk of traumatic injury, wear safety equipment during sports activities, use the recommended safety precautions for automobiles, and know the basics of fire prevention. You can also contact the healthcare experts at Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center at (877) 888-5746 for more information.