A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:
- Assessment after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is performed with the Glasgow Coma Scale (see TBI/Physical Examination below).
- General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height; furthermore:
- Inspection (viewing) of open wound and surrounding area [concomitant injuries? DMS check: blood flow? Motor function (mobility)? Sensitivity?; foreign bodies?, bleeding?, injury to deep structures?]
- If necessary, surgical examination (for larger wounds and gunshot and stab wounds).
- If necessary, dermatological examination [due topossible secondary diseases:
- Infections of the wound
- Inadequate scarring
- In case of wound healing disorders]
- Neurological examination, if necessary
- Health check
Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.
