An injury is anything that causes harm to the body. An injury can come from outside or inside the body. For example, a heart attack or a stroke is caused by something on the inside of the body. They are injuries with an internal cause. These internal injuries are not trauma.

A broken leg is caused by an outside force. A broken leg is trauma. Outside forces are external. Here are some examples of external causes of injury that result in trauma:

• • • Crashing your car
    • Falling down the stairs
    • Fist fight
    • Gunshot wounds
    • Stabbing

The external forces come from outside of the body and they cause traumatic injuries to the body. This is what we mean by trauma.