Quaternary Blast Injury
Definition
All blast-related injury not in primary/secondary/tertiary classes: burns (flash fireball + secondary fire), crush (structural collapse), and inhalation injury (CO, HCN, particulate). Inhalation injury is identified at autopsy by elevated carboxyhaemoglobin, cyanide levels, and soot in airways.
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'...
- Primary Blast Injury
- Injury caused directly by the overpressure (blast) wave. Preferentially affects gas-containing organs (lungs, tympanic membranes, bowel). Blast lung (alveolar haemorrhage, barotrauma) is...
- 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, QuaternaryAll blast-related injury not in primary/secondary/tertiary classes: burns (flash fireball + secondary fire), crush (structural collapse), and inhalation injury...