Head Injury

Question 1

Head Injury

Answer 1

• The result of any mechanical force to skull, scalp, meninges, or brain
  > concussions
  > lacerations
  > fractures
  > hematomas (subdural, epidural)
  > diffues axonal injury

Question 2

Minor Head Trauma Findings

Answer 2

• Possible loss of consciousness
  > amnt of time is significant
• Temporary peroid of confusion
• Vomiting
• Pallor
• Irritability
• Lethargy
• Drowsiness

Question 3

Early Assessment Findings of Severe Head Trauma - Infant

Answer 3

• Bulging fontanel
• Separation of cranial sutures
• Irritability
• Restlessness
• Incrd sleeping
• High-pitched cry
• Poor feeding
• Setting-sun sign(eyes)
• Distended scalp veins

Question 4

Early Assessment Findings of Severe Head Trauma - Children

Answer 4

• Nausea
• Headache
• Forceful vomiting
• Blurred vision
• Incrd sleeping
• Inability to follow simple commands
• Decline in school performance
• Seizures

Question 5

Late Assessment Findings

Answer 5

• Alterations in pupillary response
• Posturing
  > flexion & extension
• Bradycardia
• Dcrd motor response
• Dcrd response to painful stimuli
• Cheyne-Stokes respirations
• Optic disc swelling
• Dcrd consciousness
• Coma

Question 6

Head Injury - Motor Interventions

Answer 6

• VS
• Neurological function
  > assess level of consciousness closely
• Monitor for signs of incrd ICP
• Monitor for sings of brainstem involvement
  > breathing, HR, balance, speech, sensory
• Monitor for signs of epidural hematoma
  > asymmetrical pupils mau indicate a neurosurgical emergency tht requires evacuations of hematoma

Question 7

Head Injury - Interventions

Answer 7

• Withhold
  > sedating meds during acute phase of injury
  > food
• Seizure precautions
• Meds
  > acetaminophen for headache, anticonvulsants for seizures
  > corticosteroid or osmotic diuretic to reduce cerebal edema
• Concussions