Chapter 28: Head and Spine Injuries

Question 1

Inability to remember events after an injury.

Answer 1

Anterograde Amnesia

Question 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 column; for example, falling from a height and landing on the feet in an upright position.

Answer 2

Axial Loading Injuries

Question 3

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.

Answer 3

Basilar Skull Fractures

Question 4

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

Answer 4

Battle Sign

Question 5

Swelling of the brain.

Answer 5

Cerebral Edema

Question 6

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

Answer 6

Closed Head Injury

Question 7

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

Answer 7

Concussion

Question 8

Dual impacting of the brain into the skull, coup injury occurs at the point of impact; contrecoup injury occurs on the opposite side of impact, as the brain rebounds.

Answer 8

Coup-contrecoup Injury

Question 9

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

Answer 9

Epidural Hematoma

Question 10

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

Answer 10

Eyes Forward Position

Question 11

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

Answer 11

Four-Person Log Roll

Question 12

The cushion that lies between two vertebrae

Answer 12

Intervertebral Disk

Question 13

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

Answer 13

Intracerebral Hematoma

Question 14

The pressure within the cranial vault.

Answer 14

ICP

Intracranial Pressure

Question 15

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

Answer 15

Involuntary Activities

Question 16

Account for 80% of skull fractures; also referred to as nondisplaced skull fractures; commonly occur in the temporal-parietal region of the skull; not associated with deformities to the skull.

Answer 16

Linear Skull Fractures

Question 17

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

Answer 17

Meninges

Question 18

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

Answer 18

Open Head Injury

Question 19

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

Answer 19

Direct Injury

Question 20

Bruising under the eyes that may indicate a skull fracture.

Answer 20

Raccoon Eyes

Question 21

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

Answer 21

Retrograde Amnesia

Question 22

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

Answer 22

Indirect Injury

Question 23

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

Answer 23

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Question 24

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

Answer 24

Subdural Hematoma

Question 25

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

Answer 25

TBI

Traumatic Brain Injury

Question 26

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

Answer 26

Voluntary Activities