Trauma physiological effects

Groth L, Jorgensen A, Serup J. Cutaneous microdialysis in the rat insertion trauma and effect of anaesthesia studied by laser Doppler perfusion imaging and histamine release. Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology 1998, 11, 125-132. 

The intellectual confusion over the issue of the natural and unnatural by Galen and his followers seems to be due of a growing awareness of the importance of homeostasis of the body, namely, the need to maintain the constancy of the internal physiological environment. Homeostasis is a powerful concept, and there was much accumulating data to support it. Not least, injury as in the gladiatorial arena must have well illustrated the undesirability physiological effects of trauma in departures from the anatomical norm. 

Disaster victims may show symptoms of acute stress disorder as defined by DSM-IV-TR. Some individuals develop acute responses when they learn of past chronic exposure. Others may attribute stress symptoms to physiological effects of the chemical agent (Weisaeth 1994). Symptoms also can result from ordinary stressful events following a major disaster (Soloman and Canino 1990). The acute phase of stress may lead to posttraumatic stress disorder or other mood disorder symptoms. Outcome varies with the degree of disaster training, the severity of the threat, and the amount of control experienced by the individual (Weisaeth 1994). Predictors of poorer outcomes include lack of community involvement and poor social supports and communication (Weisaeth 1994). Self-blaming for the trauma predicts better outcome by maintaining the illusion of control (Solomon and Smith 1994). 

We paid particular attention to the study of physiological and therapeutic effects of silatranes and silocanes on one of the thinnest and most complicated varieties of cormective tissue — cornea. Silatranes effect on cornea was studied after mechanical trauma, and after alkaline and acidic bums. We also studied the effect of silocanes in healing tests with wounds and bums. 

Cortisol is a stress hormone released in response to trauma—physical and emotional— that leads to several physiologic changes aimed at reducing the stress associated with this trauma. This process is helpful to the body because the activity of cortisol can limit the harmful effects of stress. However, if too much cortisol is secreted (hypercortisolism) symptoms of Cushing syndrome may appear. 

The effects of skeletal trauma may be simulated by normal anatomical variations during development, projection artefacts and overlap of adjacent structures. Secondary ossification centres or irregular sites of ossification that appear fragmented are often mistaken for traumatic injury. The mach effect is a physiological form of edge enhancement created when there is an abrupt change from light to dark (radio-opaque to radiolucent) or vice versa at a concave or convex interface of a subject. Its presence at the interface of structures can simulate a fracture line. Similarly, overlap of normal structures such as skin or soft tissue folds can produce an identical appearance (Fig. 7.1). 

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