Head Injury

Question 1

epidural haematoma / extradural haematoma 
due to ?
- artery affected ?
-shape on CT?
-special factors

Answer 1

due to fracture

• middle meningeal artery bursts
• EPIEDURAL ( lemon shaped bleed)
• LUCID interval

Treatment is removal of the clot

Question 2

Subdural Haematoma

Answer 2

blood sits in brains ( sub –> banana shaped bleed)

• veins are torn
• acute ( can kill you in hours )
• Chronic ( develops over weeks , causes mild headache)
• midline shift

Question 3

Subarachnoid haemorrhage

Answer 3

• thunderclap
• due to aneurysm or trauma
• aneurysm requires coiling ( circle of willis )

Diagnosis
CT
MR
Lumbar puncture - Looking for xanthochromia
Cerebral angiography

Question 4

whats the gold standard for detection of aneurysm

Answer 4

Cerebral angiography continues to be the gold standard for detection, demonstration and localization of ruptured aneurysms.

Question 5

hyponatremia in head injury , how does it occur ?

Answer 5

Pituitary dysfunction causes syndrome of inappropriate ADH release = hyponatremia =lower threshold for seizures and epilepsy
- contusion can causes this

Question 6

whats cerebral contusion ?

Answer 6

bruising of the Brain

Question 7

What is a diffuse Axonal Injury ?

Answer 7

Tearing and damage of axons as the brain shifts during injury .

Question 8

treatments available for head injury ?

Answer 8

1) Decompressive Craniectomy ( remove part of the brain to drain the bleed, and then put it back in later )
2) Treat Hypotension / hypoxia
3) treat other injuries

Question 9

what is a concussion ?

Answer 9

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth.

( in mild category )