Brain Trauma Flashcards
X rays
Pros
- Fast
- Limited
- Good - bones + FBs
- Cheap
X rays
Cons
- Virtually no information about soft tissues
- Must be done in multiple planes
- almost no acute management = Head trauma
CTs
Pros
- Fast
- few contraindications (Preg, peds = but high Radio)
- all 3 planes
- Good = bones, blood, FBs
CTs
Cons
- VERY HIGH radiation
* Bad = soft tissue (MRI better)
MRI
Pros
- good - soft tissue/ligaments, brain/spinal
* no radiation
MRI
Cons
Slow, expensive
Contraindications (stent)
*Low use in acute ettign
Traumatic Brain Injury
Death risks
- Older = Falls
- Self-harm = middle age
- MVC = young
- Assault = infant
Injury w/
- consciousness loss
- memory loss - events preceding accident
- mental status altering
- focal neuro s/s
Mild TBI
= Mild TBI
- transient LOC
- lightheadedness
- n/V
- vision
- cognitive/ memory
Concussion
TBI
Initial management
- triage
- +/- trauma team
- Image (CT w/o contrast)
- Labs: CBC, BMP, Coags (PT etc.), UA/Utox
- Neurosurgical consult
Initial Neuro exam
- Inspect cranium
- Cranio-cervical junction
- Seizure
- Alertness
- CN exam
- Motor exam
- Sensory exam
- Reflexes
Assess consciousness?
Glasgow Coma Scale
Assess concussion?
Possible eval tool = ACE (acute concussion evaluation) , MANY OTHERS POSSIBLE
Concussion management
*REST
*return to play once symptoms have resolved
(7-14 days, possibly weeks to months)
-FOLLOW LOCAL TOOL for stepwise play activity assessment (must complete step w/o symptoms for 24 hours) = VERY LETIGIOUS
*Managing these S/S = REFER TO NEURO
Concussion lasting 3 months + ?
Post-concussive syndrome
- Refer to neuro
- Delayed hydrocephalus? Post traumatic seizures?