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blunt trauma

blunt trauma

6 5.3
Injury caused by a hard hit that does not make a cut, often in car crashes
  • noun
  • /blʌnt ˈtrɔːmə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : trauma contuso
  • The report indicated that the player suffered blunt trauma to the knee during the game.

Examples

  • And when the plastic bag was removed, there were small fractures that occurred to the skull itself, indicating some blunt trauma had been done to him during the time of his death.

  • Radiographic images are obtained for patients who have experienced blunt trauma.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Sometimes it occurs after a blunt trauma.

  • A patient recovering from blunt trauma to his left leg.

  • She's suffered blunt trauma to the head and neck.

  • Cases of acquired malformations are usually associated with a history of surgery or blunt trauma.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Furthermore, the right ventricle is immediately behind the sternum, which makes it more vulnerable to blunt trauma.

    Academic text (2016)
  • When journalists received the official autopsy report on October 26, South Africans, indeed much of the world, had confirmation of their speculations: Mr. Biko died of a massive brain hemorrhage due to blunt trauma on the left side of his head.

    Academic text (2005)
  • The medical team assessed the patient for signs of blunt trauma after the car accident.

  • After falling off his bike, he was treated for blunt trauma to his arm and shoulder.

Synonyms

contusion
vsblunt trauma
  • Specialized
56 6.9

An injury that damages the area under unbroken skin and causes a bruise

covers a wider range of impact injuries beyond bruising and can include internal damage

Antonyms

penetrating injury
  • Specialized
2 6.3

Damage that happens when an object like a knife or bullet enters the body through the skin

How Severe

injury
1.4
blunt trauma
  • Specialized
6 5.3
bruise
266 1.6

Surface Forms

blunt trauma singular
blunt traumas plural

Morphology

blunt + trauma

The meaning is directly compositional: 'blunt' = not sharp and 'trauma' = injury, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer an injury caused by a non‑penetrating impact. This medical collocation follows regular English compounding patterns and has clear parallels in many other languages, making it transparent to learners.

Etymology

Blunt trauma comes from the words blunt ('not sharp') and trauma ('injury'), and it brings to mind a heavy, dull object hitting the body and causing damage without a cut. So, it means 'an injury caused by a hard hit that does not break the skin'.