Total body disruption

"Gross dismemberment" redirects here. For other uses, see Dismember (disambiguation).

Total body disruption is the acute, fatal destruction of the body.[1] Synonymous terminology from the field of emergency medical services (EMS) is gross dismemberment.[2]

Commonly referred to as being "blown up", "blown apart", or "dashed to pieces" in older literature,[3] total body disruption may be caused by such traumas as being within or in close proximity to a powerful explosion, uncontrolled decompression, or implosion. It is the most severe type of blast injury.[4] Gross dismemberment may also be caused by a fall at terminal velocity onto a solid surface or water, from being within a high-speed crashing object, or during incidents involving high pressure differentials, where the body may be forced through a small crevice, as in the Byford Dolphin diving bell accident, or compressed rapidly, as in the Titan submersible implosion.

Total body disruption is invariably fatal to most complex life, such as humans, as structures necessary for continued survival are rendered non-functional. In the case of humans, the brain (if not destroyed) is deprived of oxygenated blood, while other organs (if not destroyed) are deprived of the involuntary functions.[5] In some jurisdictions, gross dismemberment is an assessment where EMS personnel may declare death on scene.[6][7]

Incomplete, initially unidentifiable human remains caused by total body disruption may be referred to as "disassociated portions".[8]

  1. ^ Holcomb JB, McMullin NR, Pearse L, Caruso J, Wade CE, Oetjen-Gerdes L; et al. (2007). "Causes of death in U.S. Special Operations Forces in the global war on terrorism: 2001-2004". Ann Surg. 245 (6): 986–91. doi:10.1097/01.sla.0000259433.03754.98. PMC 1876965. PMID 17522526.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "Proof of Life: Make Every Possible Effort Even when Patients Look Dead - JEMS: EMS, Emergency Medical Services - Training, Paramedic, EMT News". 30 June 2009.
  3. ^ "Indianapolis Journal 13 May 1902". Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program. 1902-05-13. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  4. ^ Kristi L. Koenig; Carl H. Schultz (18 April 2016). Koenig and Schultz's Disaster Medicine: Comprehensive Principles and Practices. Cambridge University Press. pp. 469–470. ISBN 978-1-316-47292-7.
  5. ^ Champion HR, Holcomb JB, Young LA (2009). "Injuries from explosions: physics, biophysics, pathology, and required research focus". J Trauma. 66 (5): 1468–77, discussion 1477. doi:10.1097/TA.0b013e3181a27e7f. PMID 19430256.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Dead on Scene" (PDF). scmh.org. 2012-05-31.
  7. ^ "Patient Death, Termination of Resuscitation and Pronouncement" (PDF). Oakland County. 2021-10-01. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-21.
  8. ^ Jones, Chris (November 2009). "The Things That Carried Him". In American Society of Magazine Editors (ed.). The Best American Magazine Writing 2009. Columbia University Press. p. 85. ISBN 978-0-231-14796-5.