An adult who sustained a femur fracture, liver laceration, and subdural hematoma from a factory explosion most likely experienced injuries from which level of blast trauma?

The individual in this scenario has sustained multiple serious injuries, including a femur fracture, liver laceration, and subdural hematoma, as a result of a factory explosion. These injuries suggest a high level of force and impact associated with the traumatic events occurring during the blast.

Tertiary blast injuries occur when a person is thrown by the force of an explosion. In this case, the blast likely created a shock wave powerful enough to propel the individual against a solid object or to the ground, which could explain the femur fracture and possible internal injuries such as the liver laceration. Moreover, the subdural hematoma indicates potential trauma to the head, consistent with being thrown or impacted during the blast.

Understanding the types of blast injuries clarifies why this situation best fits the tertiary classification. Primary blast injuries arise from the initial pressure wave, secondary from flying debris, and quaternary injuries include other explosion-related injuries like burns or respiratory issues. The injuries detailed in this example specifically reflect the dynamics of being forcefully displaced in a blast scenario, pinpointing them as tertiary injuries.