Primary Blast Injury
Definition
Injury caused directly by the overpressure (blast) wave. Preferentially affects gas-containing organs (lungs, tympanic membranes, bowel). Blast lung (alveolar haemorrhage, barotrauma) is the most lethal primary mechanism. No external wound is visible. Diagnosed at autopsy by pulmonary contusion pattern, tympanic membrane perforation, and bowel wall haemorrhage.
Related terms
- Blast Lung Injury
- Bilateral pulmonary contusion and alveolar tear from primary blast overpressure. The most lethal primary blast mechanism. Characterised at autopsy by bilateral 'butterfly'...
- Quaternary Blast Injury
- All blast-related injury not in primary/secondary/tertiary classes: burns (flash fireball + secondary fire), crush (structural collapse), and inhalation injury (CO, HCN, particulate)....
- Secondary Blast Injury
- Penetrating injury from fragments: device casing metal, pre-formed projectiles (nails, bolts, BBs), or environmental debris accelerated by the blast wave. The most...
- STANAG 2920
- NATO Standardization Agreement 2920, defining the fragmentation injury threshold for ballistic protection standards. Relevant in blast forensic pathology for relating fragment mass...
- Tertiary Blast Injury
- Blunt-force injury caused by physical displacement of the victim's body by the blast wind, followed by impact against surfaces. Morphologically identical to...
- Tympanic Membrane Perforation (TMP)
- Rupture of the eardrum by blast overpressure, occurring at 35-103 kPa, well below the threshold for blast lung injury. The most sensitive...
Explained in
- Blast Injuries: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, QuaternaryInjury caused directly by the overpressure (blast) wave. Preferentially affects gas-containing organs (lungs, tympanic membranes, bowel). Blast lung (alveolar...