Head, Face, and Spinal Injuries Flashcards
ecchymosis
bruising
epistasis
nose bleeds
signs and symptoms of skull fracture
- severe headache and nausea
- palpation may reveal defect or deformity
- may be blood in the ear canal, nose
- ecchymosis around the eyes (raccoon eyes)
- ecchymosis behind ears (Battle’s sign)
- CSF may appear in ear and nose (halo test)
- inability to see or smell
- unequal pupils
- paralysis, or convulsions
cerebral contusion - etiology
focal brain injury which involves small hemorrhages within cortex, stem or cerebellum
true or false; head traumas result in more fatalities than other sports injury
true
from most superficial to least superficial, what are the brain mater? (3 points)
Dura mater
Arachnoid mater
Pia mater
How many cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, and coccyx vertebra are there?
Cervical - 7 Thoracic - 12 Lumbar - 5 Sacrum - 5 (but not in all people) Coccyx - 3-5
define skull fracture
direct or indirect force that travel from the mandible to the skull
S&S Skull Fractures (7 points)
1) bad headache/nausea
2) bleeding from ear, nose, ecchymosis around eyes, behind ear
3) CSF in ears, nose
4) cannot see or smell
5) unequal pupils
6) paralysis or convulsions
true or false; concussions mean there was a skull fracture
false
true or false; skull fractures require immediate hospitalisation
true
define cerebral contusion
- small hemmorages in the cortex, cerebellum, or brain stem
S&S of Cerebral Contusions (3 points)
- headache/nausea
- dizziness
- LOC -> talkative state
define intracranial haemorrhages
blow to the head or skull #
- acceleration/deceleration forces most common cause of athlete death
which of the following is the most common cause of athlete death?
a) cardiac arrest
b) acceleration/deceleration forces of head
c) lack of education
d) malignant brain edema syndrome
B
S&S Intracranial haemorrhages (7 points)
- worsening headaches
- dizziness, sleepiness, convulsion
- nausea/vomiting
- dilation of one pupil
- alteration of and/or deterioration of consciousness; disorientation
- decrease pulse and respiration
- abnormal posturing
true or false; intracranial haemorrhages does not require immediate medical attention
false; it DOES require immediate medical attention
Problems with cervical spinal tract or cerebral hemisphere will result in _______ abnormal posturing
decorticate
Problems within midbrain or pons will result in ______ abnormal posturing
decerebrate
Decorticate posture
- stiff body
- bent arms
- clenched fist pulled into chest
- legs rigidly extended
- plantarflexion
Decererbate posture
- arms and legs stiffly extended
- forearms and hands in pronated fists
- head and neck arched into extension
- plantar flexion
Cause of Intracranial Haemorrhages - Malignant Brain Edema Syndrome in Young Population and Adults
- young population - within minutes to hours
- adults - intracranial clot resulting in diffuse brain swelling with little or no brain injury
- swelling result of hyperemia or vascular engorgement -> result in increased pressure
S&S Intracranial Haemorrhages - Malignant Brain Edema Syndrome
- rapid neurological deterioration -> coma -> death within minutes to hours
Life threatening condition!
What is the most common facial fracture?
a) mandible
b) TMJ
c) nasal
d) orbital
e) maxillary/zygomatic
nasal
S&S Nasal fractures
- profuse bleeding IF underlying tissue is formed
- deformity if lateral blows; crepitus
true or false; nasal fractures require immediate hospitalization
false; refer to physician for X ray, examination, and reduction