Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC) Practice Exam

In motor vehicle accidents, a common mechanism of injury that is frequently observed is rapid deceleration impact, which can lead to whiplash, as well as blunt trauma to various parts of the body. During a collision, the sudden stop of the vehicle can cause occupants to continue moving forward at the speed of the vehicle until they are restrained by seatbelts or other barriers. This can result in the head and neck rapidly moving in a back-and-forth motion, characteristic of whiplash injuries.

Additionally, the forces involved in deceleration can lead to blunt trauma, where internal organs may be injured, and bones could fracture due to the sudden impact. Understanding this mechanism helps healthcare providers recognize and assess critical injuries in trauma patients.

Conversely, while high-speed impacts can certainly lead to significant injuries, they are not the only mechanism and can include several types of collisions or factors; hence, they may not be considered the most common single mechanism across all accidents. Rear-end collisions and side-swipe collisions are specific scenarios that may not encompass the broad range of injuries associated with rapid deceleration impacts experienced in various types of car accidents.