The mechanism of injury, i.e. blunt, penetrating or blast is an important determinant of the amount of energy transferred and therefore the overall degree of tissue injury. Blunt force injuries, such as road traffic collisions or falls from height, are more likely to result in multiple injuries and therefore a worse overall degree of tissue injury than penetrating injuries such as stabbings or gun shot wounds. In the military setting, blast or explosion injuries may also produce more severe overall tissue injury than penetrating injuries.