Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Practice Exam

What does the absence of tenderness in the abdomen signify?

1. There is no injury

2. Injuries may still exist

3. The patient is stable

4. Immediate surgical intervention is required

The correct answer is: Injuries may still exist

The absence of tenderness in the abdomen is significant but does not rule out the presence of injuries. It indicates that, at the moment of examination, the patient does not display pain upon palpation, which might suggest that no acute inflammatory process or visceral injury is causing pain. However, this does not completely eliminate the possibility of underlying injuries, such as intra-abdominal hemorrhage or organ damage, which may be asymptomatic or may not yet have produced significant clinical signs. In trauma assessments, especially in the context of advanced trauma life support, it is crucial to emphasize that negative findings on a physical exam need to be interpreted with caution. Factors such as the patient's current physiological status, the potential for delayed presentations of symptoms, and the mechanism of injury must all be taken into account. Therefore, even in the absence of abdominal tenderness, further evaluation—potentially including imaging studies or observation—may be necessary to fully assess the patient's condition and effectively identify or rule out any significant injuries.