Head injury Flashcards
What is a primary insult to the head?
Focal/diffuse head trauma
What is a secondary insult to the head?
Hypotension
Hypoxia
Infection
Haematoma
What does GCS assess?
Conscious level of patient
What would the GCS be in mild head injury?
13-15
What would the GCS be in moderate head injury?
9-12
What would the GCS be in severe head injury?
3-8
What are the different things that GCS assesses and what are the scores?
Eye opening (4) Verbal response (5) Motor response (6)
What score will a comatose patient score?
3
What are the 5 layers of the Scalp?
Skin Connective tissue Aponeurosis Loose connective tissue Pericranium
What consists of the hindbrain? Where are they found in the skull?
Cerebellum & brainstem
Posterior cranial fossa
What is the foramen which the medulla oblongata moves through?
Foramen magnum
What are the different areas of the skull base called?
Anterior/ Middle/ Posterior fossa
What type of skull fracture will form if there is a focal impact?
Depressed fracture
What type of skull fracture will form if there is a fall onto side or top of head?
Linear fracture
What type of fracture occurs if it is fragmented?
Mosaic
What type of skull fracture encircles the foramen magnum? What causes it?
Ring fracture
Fall from height, landing on feet
What is a contra-coupe fracture?
A fracture that occurs to orbital plate after falling on back of head
Where do extradural haemorrhages usually occur from?
Middle meningeal artery (pterion)
In which type of haemorrhage is a lucid interval observed?
EDH
Where does bleeding occur from in subdural haemorrhage?
Bridging veins
In whom do SDHs occur?
Those with atrophic brains eg elderly, babies & alcoholics
Where does bleeding occur in SAH?
Usually from ruptured berry aneurysm in cerebral artery
Traumatic Basal SAH is usually a result of what?
Sudden forceful rotation of head resulting in rupture of vertebro-basilar system (killer punch)
A coup contusion will occur where?
Following head trauma at the point of impact
