ED 4Clinical Reasoning

Trauma Assessment

Assessor

PGY4+

Due

Week 7

Requirement

Optional

What Assessors Look For

Systematic primary survey (ABCDE with C-spine)
Identification of life-threatening injuries
Appropriate adjuncts (log roll, FAST, chest/pelvis X-ray)
Team coordination and handover
Secondary survey when patient stable

Key Points to Demonstrate

1C-spine immobilization until cleared
2A: Airway with C-spine protection - jaw thrust, suction, adjuncts
3B: Breathing - look for tension pneumo, open pneumo, flail chest, massive haemothorax
4C: Circulation - control external bleeding, IV access, blood if shocked
5D: Disability - GCS, pupils, glucose
6E: Exposure - log roll, temperature control
7Life-threatening chest injuries: tension pneumo, cardiac tamponade, massive haemothorax

Tips for Success

  • 💡Verbalize C-spine control: "Maintaining manual in-line stabilization"
  • 💡Call findings out loud: "Trachea central, no JVD, bilateral breath sounds"
  • 💡Know indications for chest decompression and pelvic binder

Study Resources