Head Injuries

Question 1

Define head injury

Answer 1

Any injury that results in trauma to the brain or skull
Patients may appear normal and unaffected
A serious situation may develop hours or days after injury

Question 2

List the signs and symptoms of compression

Answer 2

Deterioration of response
Breathing noisy and slow
Slow pulse which is strong and full
Pupils may become unequal and unresponsive to light
Motor function - weakness or paralysis on side of body or face
Intense headache
Convulsions
Raised temperature

Question 3

What is a secondary survey for a head injury?

Answer 3

• Dress scalp wounds
• Look for any CSF
• Note pupil size and response
• Observe Breathing
– Rate, rhythm, volume
• Take pulse regularly – Rate, rhythm, volume
• Fast, thorough exam of body for other injuries
• Monitor for other uncontrolled haemorrhage
• Assess level of consciousness regularly
• Convey conscious patients as stretcher case with head and shoulders raised

Question 4

What is concussion?

Answer 4

loss of consciousness after the head injury
periods of memory loss
disturbances in vision, such as “seeing stars” or blurry vision
a period of confusion, a blank expression, or a delay in answering questions immediately after the head injury

Question 5

When does a ‘primary brain injury’ occur?

Answer 5

At the time of injury.

Question 6

When does a secondary brain injury occur?

Answer 6

As a result of hypoxia or lack of perfusion.

Question 7

Vascular Damage: What is a extradural haemorrhage?

Answer 7

Blood collecting between inner surface of the skull and the outer layer of the dura.

Question 8

Vascular Damage: What is a subdural haemorrhage?

Answer 8

Blood in the potential space between the dural and the arachnoid mater of the meninges around the brain.