Biophysics and physiopathogenesis of blast wave traumatic injury. Narrative review. Part I

Explosions are physical, chemical or nuclear reactions that produce a rapid release of enormous amounts of energy (mechanical, kinetic, radioactive, etc.). The chemical explosion is produced by the molecular breakdown of the elements that make up the explosive device. It is an oxidation-reduction process without the intervention of any gas (oxygen) that generates a powerful blast wave. Its harmful effect on living beings and destructive effect on nature is included in the generic term of traumatic injury by blast wave. The categories of explosion by explosive device are: combustion, deflagration and detonation. Explosive devices are classified as high power and low power. The former cause a detonation and the latter a deflagration. Traumatic injury, both physical and psychological, by blast wave is multimodal and its didactic taxonomy refers to the predominant etiological factor. The physical aspects of the explosion and the blast wave are the subject of this narrative review.