Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) A Practice Exam 2025 - Free SANE Practice Questions and Study Guide

Blunt force trauma is characterized by injury resulting from a forceful impact that does not penetrate the skin. It encompasses various forms of damage to the body, including abrasions, lacerations, contusions, and fractures.

Abrasions are superficial wounds where the skin is scraped off, often from contact with a rough surface. Lacerations refer to deeper cuts or tears in the skin, which can vary in severity. Contusions, commonly known as bruises, occur when blood vessels are damaged beneath the skin due to a blunt impact, leading to discoloration. Fractures represent breaks in the bone structure, often resulting from significant blunt force exerted on the body.

Each of these injuries is a result of non-penetrating forces impacting the body, rather than penetrating or thermal damage. Understanding the nature of blunt force trauma is crucial in assessing and documenting injuries in sexual assault cases, as it helps differentiate the mechanism of injury and provides essential information for forensic analysis and potential legal proceedings.