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Referencing the content of EMT-Basic training and emergency patient care

EMT Basic · Chapter 28

Face and Neck Injuries

Learning objectives (13)

  1. Demonstrate the care of a patient who has a penetrating eye injury — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1006); confirm wording in your course copy.
  2. Describe the anatomy and physiology of the head, face, and neck; include major structures and specific important landmarks of which EMTs must be aware — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1005); confirm wording in your course copy.
  3. Describe the factors that may cause obstruction of the upper airway following a facial injury — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1005); confirm wording in your course copy.
  4. Discuss the different types of facial injuries and the patient care considerations related to each one — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1005); confirm wording in your course copy.
  5. Explain emergency medical care of a patient with injuries of the nose — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1006); confirm wording in your course copy.
  6. Explain emergency medical care of a patient with soft-tissue wounds of the face and neck — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1005); confirm wording in your course copy.
  7. Explain the emergency care of a patient who has sustained face and neck injuries; include assessment of the patient, review of signs and symptoms, and management of care — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1005); confirm wording in your course copy.
  8. Explain the emergency medical care of a patient with an eye injury based on the following scenarios: foreign object, impaled object, burns, lacerations, blunt trauma, closed head i — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1005); confirm wording in your course copy.
  9. Explain the emergency medical care of a patient with an upper airway injury caused by blunt trauma — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1006); confirm wording in your course copy.
  10. Explain the emergency medical care of a patient with injuries of the ear, including lacerations and foreign body insertions — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1006); confirm wording in your course copy.
  11. Explain the emergency medical care of the patient with a penetrating injury to the neck; include how to control regular and life-threatening bleeding — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1006); confirm wording in your course copy.
  12. Explain the emergency medical care of the patient with dental and cheek injuries; include how to deal with an avulsed tooth — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1006); confirm wording in your course copy.
  13. Explain the physical findings and emergency care of a patient with a facial fracture — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 1006); confirm wording in your course copy.

Vocabulary (10)

Le Fort fracture
A classification of midface fractures — Le Fort I (transverse maxilla), II (pyramidal), III (craniofacial separation).
Blowout fracture
A fracture of the orbital floor caused by blunt impact to the eye, which can entrap eye muscles and produce double vision.
Dental avulsion
Complete displacement of a tooth from its socket; intact permanent teeth can be replanted if managed correctly within 30–60 minutes.
Hyphema
Blood pooled in the anterior chamber of the eye, usually after blunt trauma; requires ophthalmologic evaluation.
Tracheal deviation
Visible shifting of the trachea to one side, a late sign of tension pneumothorax or large neck mass.
Battle's sign
Bruising over the mastoid process behind the ear, a late sign of basal skull fracture.
Raccoon eyes
Periorbital ecchymosis (bruising around both eyes), a late sign of basal skull fracture.
Mandible fracture
A break in the lower jaw bone; can affect bite alignment and airway when bilateral.
Globe rupture
A full-thickness tear of the eyeball wall — a sight-threatening emergency requiring protective shielding, never pressure.
Airway compromise (facial trauma)
Obstruction or imminent obstruction from blood, swelling, debris, or anatomic disruption that requires aggressive airway management.

Sequence practice (2 puzzles on Quiz Me)

Le Fort fracture levels

Order Le Fort midface fractures from lowest to highest in severity.

  1. Le Fort I — transverse maxilla above the teeth
  2. Le Fort II — pyramidal, includes nasal bridge
  3. Le Fort III — craniofacial separation (free-floating midface)
Airway management in severe facial trauma

Order the EMT's airway priorities for a patient with massive facial bleeding.

  1. Suction blood and debris aggressively
  2. Position upright (if no spinal injury) to let blood drain forward
  3. Maintain spinal motion restriction if MOI suggests possible spine injury
  4. Insert basic airway adjunct if tolerated
  5. Prepare for ALS / advanced airway intercept; rapid transport

Quick fire sample (10 of 10 on Quiz Me)

A classification of midface fractures — Le Fort I (transverse maxilla), II (pyramidal), III (craniofacial separation).
  1. Battle's sign
  2. Raccoon eyes
  3. Le Fort fracture
  4. Dental avulsion
A fracture of the orbital floor caused by blunt impact to the eye, which can entrap eye muscles and produce double vision.
  1. Dental avulsion
  2. Blowout fracture
  3. Airway compromise (facial trauma)
  4. Hyphema
Complete displacement of a tooth from its socket; intact permanent teeth can be replanted if managed correctly within 30–60 minutes.
  1. Le Fort fracture
  2. Blowout fracture
  3. Globe rupture
  4. Dental avulsion
Blood pooled in the anterior chamber of the eye, usually after blunt trauma; requires ophthalmologic evaluation.
  1. Hyphema
  2. Airway compromise (facial trauma)
  3. Le Fort fracture
  4. Mandible fracture
Visible shifting of the trachea to one side, a late sign of tension pneumothorax or large neck mass.
  1. Tracheal deviation
  2. Hyphema
  3. Airway compromise (facial trauma)
  4. Le Fort fracture
Bruising over the mastoid process behind the ear, a late sign of basal skull fracture.
  1. Blowout fracture
  2. Mandible fracture
  3. Battle's sign
  4. Raccoon eyes
Periorbital ecchymosis (bruising around both eyes), a late sign of basal skull fracture.
  1. Raccoon eyes
  2. Blowout fracture
  3. Tracheal deviation
  4. Globe rupture
A break in the lower jaw bone; can affect bite alignment and airway when bilateral.
  1. Globe rupture
  2. Tracheal deviation
  3. Mandible fracture
  4. Dental avulsion
A full-thickness tear of the eyeball wall — a sight-threatening emergency requiring protective shielding, never pressure.
  1. Airway compromise (facial trauma)
  2. Raccoon eyes
  3. Hyphema
  4. Globe rupture
Obstruction or imminent obstruction from blood, swelling, debris, or anatomic disruption that requires aggressive airway management.
  1. Dental avulsion
  2. Blowout fracture
  3. Raccoon eyes
  4. Airway compromise (facial trauma)

Some topics in this course differ across field references. See when sources disagree on Quiz Me before you teach from this sheet alone.

Full scored drills are on Quiz Me at /courses/nm-emt-b/chapters/28/print/. Answers are not marked on this sheet.