Kinematics is the study of how energy is transferred during a traumatic event and how that energy affects the human body. Understanding kinematics helps providers predict injury patterns, recognize hidden injuries, and develop an effective assessment strategy.

When a person is involved in a traumatic event, energy transfers from one object to another, and the body absorbs that energy as tissue damage. The severity of injury is influenced by the amount of energy involved, the direction of force, and the body’s ability to absorb the impact.

Common examples of kinematics in trauma include:

• Motor Vehicle Collisions: Injury patterns vary depending on the type of collision, occupant position, use of restraints, airbag deployment, and vehicle intrusion.
• Falls: The height of the fall, landing surface, and body position at impact influence the severity and location of injuries.
• Pedestrian Strikes: Multiple impacts often occur, resulting in complex injury patterns involving the lower extremities, pelvis, torso, and head.
• Blast Events: Explosions create complex injury patterns through multiple mechanisms of energy transfer:
  • Primary — caused by the blast pressure wave affecting air-filled organs such as the lungs, ears, and GI tract.
  • Secondary — caused by flying debris, fragmentation, or shrapnel.
  • Tertiary — occurs when the patient is displaced by the blast force and strikes another object or the ground.
  • Quaternary — includes burns, inhalation injuries, crush injuries, and other explosion-related conditions.

Remember: Kinematics provides clues, not a diagnosis. Always interpret it alongside patient assessment findings, vital signs, and clinical presentation.