Term
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Definition
| a broad classification that includes any injury to the scalp, skull or brain. |
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Term
| What is the most common cause of head injury? |
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Definition
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Term
| Other causes of TBI (traumatic brain injury) are: |
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Definition
| firearms, assaults, sports-related traumas, recreational injuries, and war related injuries. |
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Term
| Males are ____ as likely to sustain a TBI as females |
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Definition
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Term
| Deaths from head trauma can occure at 3 times after injury: when? |
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Definition
1. immediatly after injury
2. within 2 hours after injury
3. approximatly 3 weeks after injury |
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Term
| Factors that predict a poor prognosis are: |
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Definition
1. presence of intercranial hematoma
2. older age
3. abnormal motor responses
4. hypotension
5. hypoxemia or hypercapnia
6. ICP levels greater than 20mm/Hg |
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Term
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Definition
| Skull fractures and head lacerations |
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Term
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Definition
| easily recognized, and external type of trauma |
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Term
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Definition
many ways to describe and frequently occur with head traumas.
1. linear or depressed
2. simple, comminuted or compound |
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Term
| What are two problems associated with a tear in the dura and what can happen because of this? |
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Definition
Rhinorrhea (CSF leakage of the nose)
otorrhea (CSF leakage from the ear)
If not caught can get meningitis from the leaking CSF |
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Term
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Definition
| Dextrostix or Tes-Tape- tests for glucose in the leaking fluid-if it is CSF it will have glucose in the fluid |
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Term
| Brain injuries are labled as: |
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Definition
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Term
| Concussion (diffuse injury) |
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Definition
| sudden transient mechanical head injury with disruption of neural activity and a change in the LOC. Considered a minor injury. May or may not lose conciousness |
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Term
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Definition
| decreased level of conciousness, increased ICP, global cerebral edema. Patients with DIA remain in a persistent vegitative state. |
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Term
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Definition
| can be minor or severe. Consist of lacerations, contusions, and hematomas |
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Term
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Definition
| bruising of the brain tissue within a focal area-associated with a close head injury. |
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Term
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Definition
| bleeding between the dura and the inner surface of the skull--associated with a liniar fracture |
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Term
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Definition
| bleeding between the dura and the arachnoid of the meninges. Usually results from veins that drain from the surface of the brain to the sagital sinus. |
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Term
| What is the best diagnostic test to evaluate for head trauma? |
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Definition
| CT scan bc it allows for rapid diagnosis and intervention in the acute care setting |
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Term
| What other diagnostic tests are available besides CT |
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Definition
MRI, PET abd evoked potential studies may also be used. An MRI is more sensitive than a CT is detecting small lesions.
Doppler studies allow for measurment of CBF velocity. |
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Term
| What is emergency management of a patient with head trauma? |
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Definition
| Measures to prevent secondary injury by treating cerebral edema and increased ICP.. the prinicple treatment is timely diagnosis and surgery if necessary. |
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