Head injury

Question 1

What is a primary insult to the head?

Answer 1

Focal/diffuse head trauma

Question 2

What is a secondary insult to the head?

Answer 2

Hypotension
Hypoxia
Infection
Haematoma

Question 3

What does GCS assess?

Answer 3

Conscious level of patient

Question 4

What would the GCS be in mild head injury?

Answer 4

13-15

Question 5

What would the GCS be in moderate head injury?

Answer 5

9-12

Question 6

What would the GCS be in severe head injury?

Answer 6

3-8

Question 7

What are the different things that GCS assesses and what are the scores?

Answer 7

Eye opening (4)
Verbal response (5)
Motor response (6)

Question 8

What score will a comatose patient score?

Answer 8

3

Question 9

What are the 5 layers of the Scalp?

Answer 9

Skin
Connective tissue
Aponeurosis
Loose connective tissue
Pericranium

Question 10

What consists of the hindbrain? Where are they found in the skull?

Answer 10

Cerebellum & brainstem

Posterior cranial fossa

Question 11

What is the foramen which the medulla oblongata moves through?

Answer 11

Foramen magnum

Question 12

What are the different areas of the skull base called?

Answer 12

Anterior/ Middle/ Posterior fossa

Question 13

What type of skull fracture will form if there is a focal impact?

Answer 13

Depressed fracture

Question 14

What type of skull fracture will form if there is a fall onto side or top of head?

Answer 14

Linear fracture

Question 15

What type of fracture occurs if it is fragmented?

Answer 15

Mosaic

Question 16

What type of skull fracture encircles the foramen magnum? What causes it?

Answer 16

Ring fracture

Fall from height, landing on feet

Question 17

What is a contra-coupe fracture?

Answer 17

A fracture that occurs to orbital plate after falling on back of head

Question 18

Where do extradural haemorrhages usually occur from?

Answer 18

Middle meningeal artery (pterion)

Question 19

In which type of haemorrhage is a lucid interval observed?

Answer 19

EDH

Question 20

Where does bleeding occur from in subdural haemorrhage?

Answer 20

Bridging veins

Question 21

In whom do SDHs occur?

Answer 21

Those with atrophic brains eg elderly, babies & alcoholics

Question 22

Where does bleeding occur in SAH?

Answer 22

Usually from ruptured berry aneurysm in cerebral artery

Question 23

Traumatic Basal SAH is usually a result of what?

Answer 23

Sudden forceful rotation of head resulting in rupture of vertebro-basilar system (killer punch)

Question 24

A coup contusion will occur where?

Answer 24

Following head trauma at the point of impact

Question 25

A contre-coup contusion will occur when?

Answer 25

Following head trauma, will occur opposite site of impact

Question 26

What situation is traumatic diffuse axonal injury associated with?

Answer 26

Road traffic accident