Which finding is a red flag of abdominal trauma in the field?

• A. Rebound tenderness
• B. Uneven breath sounds
• C. Normal capillary refill
• D. Clear mental status

Answer: (A)

Rebound tenderness signals peritoneal irritation from an intra-abdominal injury. In the field, when pressing on the abdomen and then releasing causes sharp, increased pain, it suggests something painful is irritating the peritoneum—often from internal bleeding or organ injury. That makes it a red flag that needs rapid evaluation and transport, since the patient can deteriorate quickly.

Other signs like uneven breath sounds point to chest trauma, not abdominal injury; normal capillary refill and an otherwise clear mental status suggest stable perfusion and cognition at that moment, which do not by themselves indicate an abdominal emergency. The rebound finding, by contrast, directly raises concern for intra-abdominal injury.