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Blunt vs penetrating trauma physiology and outcomes

Blunt versus penetrating trauma: differences in early physiology, coagulopathy, and outcomes in a Scandinavian trauma centre
Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine · Added 30 August 2026

This Swedish registry of 2,193 trauma patients (353 penetrating) found penetrating trauma patients were younger (median 34 vs 49 years), more often male (78% vs 66%), more frequently in shock on arrival (5.9% vs 2.2%), and more likely to require emergency surgery (53% vs 30%) and early blood transfusion (20% vs 4.5%).

Study type

Registry

Design

Registry-based observational cohort study

Participants

2,193 adult trauma patients (353 penetrating)

Main finding

Penetrating trauma patients more often in shock (5.9% vs 2.2%), more emergency surgery (53% vs 30%) and early transfusion (20% vs 4.5%); blunt trauma had higher ISS (median 10 vs 4) and worse functional outcomes; 30-day mortality not significantly different after adjustment

Caveat

Single Scandinavian trauma centre; not generalisable to Australian prehospital systems

Bottom line

Context only

Learning goal

Recognise how early shock and transfusion needs differ between blunt and penetrating trauma in my assessment.

More

• Topic: Trauma
• Daily scan: 30 August 2026

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