Commotion cordis is defined as?

Commotion cordis is defined as?

• A. Sudden death directly following blunt force trauma
• B. Chronic chest pain after trauma
• C. Post-traumatic arrhythmia developing days after injury
• D. Rib fracture with flail chest

Answer: (A)

Commotio cordis is a sudden cardiac arrest triggered by a blunt impact to the chest, usually at a vulnerable moment in the heart’s electrical cycle, which can provoke ventricular fibrillation and collapse within seconds. It happens without structural chest injury, so it’s not about persistent chest pain, delayed arrhythmias, or rib fractures like a flail chest. In short, this term describes sudden death that occurs immediately after the chest impact due to an acute arrhythmia.

Commotio cordis is a sudden cardiac arrest triggered by a blunt impact to the chest, usually at a vulnerable moment in the heart’s electrical cycle, which can provoke ventricular fibrillation and collapse within seconds. It happens without structural chest injury, so it’s not about persistent chest pain, delayed arrhythmias, or rib fractures like a flail chest. In short, this term describes sudden death that occurs immediately after the chest impact due to an acute arrhythmia.