Which finding within skin trauma would be considered abnormal?

In the context of skin trauma, a contusion, or bruise, is indicative of underlying vascular injury and usually results from blunt force impact. It signifies damage to the blood vessels under the skin, leading to leakage of blood into the surrounding tissues, which is not a typical or normal finding associated with uninjured skin.

In contrast, intact skin that is atraumatic is a normal finding; it indicates that there has not been any injury to that area. Shiny appearance and normal skin texture can also be relevant indicators in understanding skin health or conditions but do not denote trauma in themselves. Shiny skin can suggest issues such as edema or scarring but does not automatically imply trauma. Hence, recognizing a contusion as an abnormal finding aligns with understanding that any injury to blood vessels beneath the surface is not characteristic of healthy, intact skin, thus making it the correct choice in identifying what constitutes an abnormal finding in the realm of skin trauma.