Subcutaneous emphysema after a blast is most strongly associated with which injury?

Subcutaneous emphysema after a blast is most strongly associated with which injury?

• A. Pulmonary blast injury
• B. Cardiac contusion
• C. Traumatic brain injury
• D. Abdominal injury

Answer: (A)

Subcutaneous emphysema after a blast points to air escaping from the lungs due to primary blast–induced pulmonary barotrauma. The explosion creates a rapid overpressure that damages air-filled structures, especially the lungs, causing alveolar rupture. Air then tracks along tissue planes into the subcutaneous tissues of the chest and neck, producing the characteristic crackling sensation under the skin. This makes pulmonary blast injury the most strongly associated cause of subcutaneous emphysema in blast scenarios. The other injuries listed—cardiac contusion, traumatic brain injury, and abdominal injury—don’t routinely generate subcutaneous air collections and therefore aren’t as closely linked to this finding.

Subcutaneous emphysema after a blast points to air escaping from the lungs due to primary blast–induced pulmonary barotrauma. The explosion creates a rapid overpressure that damages air-filled structures, especially the lungs, causing alveolar rupture. Air then tracks along tissue planes into the subcutaneous tissues of the chest and neck, producing the characteristic crackling sensation under the skin. This makes pulmonary blast injury the most strongly associated cause of subcutaneous emphysema in blast scenarios. The other injuries listed—cardiac contusion, traumatic brain injury, and abdominal injury—don’t routinely generate subcutaneous air collections and therefore aren’t as closely linked to this finding.