4.19 TBI

Question 1

What are some classic things that may happen after TBI?

Answer 1

• perseverating
• amnesia
• emotional things

Question 2

perseverate

Answer 2

get stuck on a thought, asking the same question, etc

Question 3

emotional considerations post TBI

Answer 3

may be more easily angered, saddened, etc.

Question 4

categories of TBIs

Answer 4

• open
• closed
• blast injury
• secondary injury
• acquired brain injury

Question 5

types of open brain injury

Answer 5

cranial vault opened

• fracture, etc.
• penetrating

Question 6

What are some potential complications with penetrating brain injuries?

Answer 6

• worry about infection

- likely has been tissue loss

Question 7

closed brain injuries

Answer 7

• concussion

- coup-countercoup (rebound)

Question 8

closed TBI: What creates injury to brain tissue?

Answer 8

• initial force
• shear

➡︎ can injure blood vessels
➡︎ cell death of brain tissue

Question 9

What can happen if CSF is blocked from a TBI?

Answer 9

hydrocephalus

Question 10

Blast injury

Answer 10

• concussion from a blast

- can come from waves of pressure from the blast or being thrown from the blast

Question 11

What is the problem with addressing blast injuries?

Answer 11

Many will hide these problems (don’t want to seem weak)

Question 12

secondary TBI

Answer 12

diffuse axonal injury

• soft brain smacking around in the sharp jaggedy cranial vault creates spotty array of s/s
• not every cell is affected!

Question 13

ABI

Answer 13

acquired brain injury

Question 14

What is an ABI caused by?

Answer 14

hypoxic event

• birth (cord wrapped around, loss of oxygen, etc.)
• near drowning
• autoasphyxia

Question 15

What are the severity categories of TBI?

Answer 15

• mild

- moderate/severe

Question 16

Why are mild TBIs often missed?

Answer 16

concussions

- don’t always have to become unconscious to have a mild TBI

Question 17

How long can mild TBIs last?

Answer 17

can have s/s up to a year later

Question 18

early s/s of mild TBI

Answer 18

• KO’s under 20 mins
• loss of sense of smell
• nausea

Question 19

physical complaints of mild TBI

Answer 19

• Fatigue
• HA
• visual problems
• dizziness
• seizures (can happen)
• sensitivity to light/sound

Question 20

Why might visual problems happen with mild TBI?

Answer 20

• coup-countercoup injury

- occipital lobe hits

Question 21

cognitive s/s from mild TBI

Answer 21

• confusion
• memory loss
• poor attention
• slow thinking

Question 22

psychological s/s from mild TBI

Answer 22

• depression

- moodiness

Question 23

major differences in mild and mod/severe TBI

Answer 23

LENGTH of unconsciousness

same effects, but lasting

Question 24

moderate TBI: unconscious time

Answer 24

20 minutes » 6 hours

Question 25

severe TBI: unconscious time

Answer 25

6 or more hours LOC

Question 26

physical s/s mod/severe TBI

Answer 26

• vision
• hearing loss, tinnitus
• loss of smell/taste
• seizures
• bowel/bladder issues
• ANS goes haywore (HR/BP)

Question 27

vision issues with mod/severe TBI

Answer 27

• blurred
• blindness
• double vision (that lasts forever)
• light intolerance

Question 28

cognitive s/s from mod/severe TBI

Answer 28

• decreased attention
• speed of processing
• reading and writing issues
• planning is hard

Question 29

reading and writing issues with mod/severe TBI pt

Answer 29

• sensory/motor issues

- often look like a stroke pt, but more diffuse

Question 30

psychological problems with TBI pt (mod/severe)

Answer 30

• perseveration that lasts

- impulsiveness