Which of the following is a trauma secondary assessment finding (status 2)?

• A. Paralysis
• B. Minor bleeding
• C. Superficial burn to hand
• D. No injuries

Answer: (A)

In trauma care, the secondary assessment is the head-to-toe evaluation you perform after life threats have been addressed, looking for injuries that aren’t immediately life-threatening but require attention. A finding of paralysis stands out here because it reveals a neurological deficit—loss of motor function in a limb or body region. That kind of deficit points to potential spinal cord injury or nerve damage, which is a high-risk condition. Recognizing it during the secondary survey helps justify immobilization and rapid transport, fitting a status that denotes serious trauma needing urgent definitive care.

Minor bleeding can occur in the course of a full exam, but on its own it doesn’t imply the same level of risk as a neurological deficit. A superficial burn to the hand is an injury that would be documented, but it doesn’t indicate a potential spinal injury or urgency to the same degree. No injuries would mean there’s nothing to find, which isn’t consistent with a trauma assessment scenario.