Kehr's Sign indicates what type of injury?

Kehr's Sign indicates what type of injury?

• A. Kidney injury
• B. Splenic injury
• C. Liver injury
• D. Pancreatic injury

Answer: (B)

Kehr's Sign is a clinical indicator often associated with splenic injury or splenic rupture. It is characterized by referred pain to the left shoulder, which can occur due to irritation of the diaphragm by blood or fluid from a ruptured spleen. The diaphragm and shoulder are anatomically linked through the phrenic nerve, so when the spleen is injured, it can cause pain to be felt in the shoulder area. Understanding this sign is crucial for flight paramedics because it helps in the assessment of traumatic injuries, especially in patients presenting with abdominal trauma. Recognizing Kehr's Sign can guide emergency medical personnel toward appropriate interventions and the need for rapid transport to a facility capable of managing splenic injuries. While other options indicate injuries to different organs, they do not typically correlate with Kehr's Sign. For instance, kidney injuries may present with flank pain, while liver and pancreatic injuries have their specific pain patterns and symptoms that do not align with the referred shoulder pain indicative of splenic issues.

Kehr's Sign is a clinical indicator often associated with splenic injury or splenic rupture. It is characterized by referred pain to the left shoulder, which can occur due to irritation of the diaphragm by blood or fluid from a ruptured spleen. The diaphragm and shoulder are anatomically linked through the phrenic nerve, so when the spleen is injured, it can cause pain to be felt in the shoulder area.

Understanding this sign is crucial for flight paramedics because it helps in the assessment of traumatic injuries, especially in patients presenting with abdominal trauma. Recognizing Kehr's Sign can guide emergency medical personnel toward appropriate interventions and the need for rapid transport to a facility capable of managing splenic injuries.

While other options indicate injuries to different organs, they do not typically correlate with Kehr's Sign. For instance, kidney injuries may present with flank pain, while liver and pancreatic injuries have their specific pain patterns and symptoms that do not align with the referred shoulder pain indicative of splenic issues.