Ch. 29 Head and Spine Injuries

Question 1

Anterograde (posttraumatic) amnesia

Answer 1

Inability to remembere events after an injury.

Question 2

Axial loading injuries

Answer 2

Injuries in which 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 colum; for example, falling from a height and landing on the feet in an upright position.

Question 3

Basilar skull fractures

Answer 3

Fractures that usually occur following diffuse impact to the head (eg, 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.

Question 4

Battle sign

Answer 4

Bruising behind an ear over the mastoid process that may indicate a skull fracture.

Question 5

Central neurogenic hyperventilation

Answer 5

Abnormal breathing pattern associated with increased ICP that is characterized by deep, rapid, breathing; this pattern is similar to kussmaul respirations but without acetone breath odor.

Question 6

Cerebral edema

Answer 6

Swelling of the brain.

Question 7

Closed head injury

Answer 7

Injury in which the brain has been injured but the skin has not been broken and ther is no obvious bleeding.

Question 8

Concussion

Answer 8

A temporary loss or alteration of part or all of the brain’s abilities to function without actual physical damage to the brain.

Question 9

Coup-contrecoup injury

Answer 9

A brain injury that occurs when force is applied to the head and energy transmission through brain tissue causes injury to the opposite side of original impact.

Question 10

Epidural hematoma

Answer 10

An accumulation of blood between the skull and the dura mater.

Question 11

Eyes-forward position

Answer 11

A head position in which the patient’s eyes are looking straight ahead and the head and torso are in line.

Question 12

Four-person log roll

Answer 12

The recommended procedure for moving a patient with a suspected spinal inrury from the ground to a long backboard or other spinal precaution device.

Question 13

Intervertebrak disks

Answer 13

Tough, elastic structures between adjoining vertebrae that act as shock absorbers.

Question 14

Intracerebral hematoma

Answer 14

Bleeding within the brain tissue (parenchyma) itself; also referred to as an intraparenchymal hematoma.

Question 15

Intracranial pressure (ICP)

Answer 15

The pressure within the cranial vault.

Question 16

Involuntary activities

Answer 16

Actions of the body that are not under a person’s conscious control.

Question 17

linear skull fractures

Answer 17

Fractures that commonly occur in the temporoparietal region of the skull and that are not associated with deformities to the skull; accound for 80% on skll fractures; also referred to ass nondisplaced skull fractures.

Question 18

Meninges

Answer 18

Three distinct layers of tissue that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord within the skull and spinal canal.

Question 19

Open head injury

Answer 19

Injury to the head often causeed by a penetrating object in which there may be bleeding and exposed brain tissue.

Question 20

Primary (direct) injury

Answer 20

An injury to the brain and its associated structures that is a direct result of impact to the head.

Question 21

Raccoon eyes

Answer 21

Bruising under the eyes that may indicate a skull fracture.

Question 22

Retrograde amnesia

Answer 22

The inability to rememberr events leading up to a head injury.

Question 23

Secondary (indirect) injury

Answer 23

The aftereffects of the primary injury; includes the abnormal processes such as cerebral edema, increased ICP, cerebral ischemia and hypoxia, and infection; onset is often delayed following the primary brain injury.

Question 24

Subarachnoid hemorrhage

Answer 24

Bleeding into the subarachnoid space, where the cerebrospinal fluid circulates.

Question 25

Subdural hematoma

Answer 25

An accumulation of blood beneath the dura mater but outside the brain.

Question 26

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Answer 26

A traumatic insult to the brain capable of producing physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and vocational changes.

Question 27

Voluntary activities

Answer 27

Actions that we consiously perform, in which sensory input or consious thought determines a specific muscular activity.