28. Head and Spine Injuries Flashcards
inability to remember events after an injury
anterograde (post traumatic) amnesia
injuries in which the load is applied along the vertical or longitudinal axis of the spine, which results in load being transmitted along the entire length of the vertebral column
axial loading injuries
usually occur following diffuse impact to the head (such as falls, motor vehicle crashes); generally result from extension of a linear fracture to the base of the skull and can be difficult to diagnose with a radiograph
basilar skull injuries
bruising behind an ear over the mastoid process that may indicate a skull fracture
battle sign
swelling of the brain
cerebral edema
injury in which the brain has been injured but the skin has not been broken and there is no obvious bleeding
closed head injury
a temporary loss or alteration of part or all of the brain’s abilities to function without actual physical damage to the brain
concussion
dual impacting of the brain into the skull; coup injury occurs at the point of impact; countercoup injury occurs on the opposite side of impact, as the brain rebounds
coup-contrecoup injury
an accumulation of blood between the skull and the dura mater
epidural hematoma
a head position in which the patient’s eyes are looking straight ahead and the head and torso are in line
eyes forward position
the recommended procedure for moving a patient with a suspected spinal injury from the ground to a long backboard or other spinal immobilization device
four-person log roll
the cushion that lies between two vertebrae
intervertebral disk
bleeding within the brain tissue (parenchyma) itself; also referred to as an intraparenchymal hematoma
intracerebral hematoma
the pressure within the cranial vault
intracranial pressure (ICP)
actions of the body that are not under a person’s conscious control
involuntary activities
account for 80% of skull fractures; also referred to as non displaced skull fractures; commonly occur in the temporal-parietal region of the skull; not associated with deformities to the skull
linear skull fractures
three distinct layers of tissue that surround and protect the brain and the spinal cord within the skull and the spinal canal
meninges
injury to the head often caused by a penetrating object in which there may be bleeding and exposed brain tissue
open head injury
an injury to the brain and its associated structures that is a direct result of impact to the head
primary (direct) injury
bruising under the eyes that may indicate a skull fracture
raccoon eyes
the inability to remember event leading up to a head injury
retrograde amnesia
the after effects of the primary injury; includes abnormal processes such as cerebral edema, increased intracranial pressure, cerebral ischemia, hypoxia, and infection; onset is often delayed following the primary brain injury
secondary (indirect) amnesia
bleeding into the subarachnoid space, where the CSF circulates
subarachnoid hemorrhage
an accumulation of the blood beneath the dura mater but outside the brain
subdural hematoma
a traumatic insult to the brain capable of producing physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and vocational changes
traumatic brain injury (TBI)
actions that we consciously perform, in which sensory input or conscious thought determines a specific muscular activity
voluntary activities
