Head Injury + Brain Haemorrhage Flashcards
What are RF for brain injury and what type
Focal - contusion / haematoma
Diffuse - diffuse axonal injury
RF Head injury Hypertension Aneurysm Ischaemic stroke Brain tumour Anti-coagulate
How does basal skull fracture present
Panda eyes
Battle sign (bruised mastoid)
CSF leakage ears or nose
What does a 3rd CN palsy secondary to tentorial herniation present with
Unilateral dilated + fixed pupils or sluggish
What does bilateral suggest
Bilateral CN 3 palsy from herniation or poor CNS perfusion
What does optic nerve injury cause
Unilateral dilated pupil
May be equal and cross reactive
What causes bilateral constricted pupils
Opiates
Pontine lesion
Metabolic encephalopathy
What causes unilateral constricted but light responsive
Sympathetic pathway disruption
What gets immediate CT
GCS <13 initial GCS <15 2 hours post Suspected open or depressed skull fracture Basal skull Post traumatic seizure Focal neuro deficit \+1 vomit
Who gets CT within 8 hours
Anyone on warfarin
If LOC / amnesia
>65
Hx bleeding / clotting issues
Dangerous mechanism
30 mins retrograde amnesia of immediately before
CT cervical spine if neck pain / reduced rotation
Who gets ICP monitoring
If GCS 3-8 even if CT normal as ICP may begin to rise
What do you want for ICP monitoring
Minimal CPP
70 in adults
40-70 in children
How do you treat
ATLS principles Stabilise cervical spine ABCDE FBC, clotting Intubate if GCS <8 - urgent airway IV mannitol if rising ICP Immediate head CT Depression craniotomy may be needed If depressed skull fracture =surgical reduction + debridement
Electroylyte complication of head injury
Hyponatraemia due to inappropriate ADH secretion
What is extradural haemorrhage
Blood between skull and dura as dura peeled off skull
Nothing normally present
What causes extradural
Head injury
Often low impact
90% associated skull fracture which damages middle meningeal artery splitting dura
Usually temporal region / temporal bone fracture Pterion = area that encompasses - Parietal bone - Temporal bone - Greater wing of sphenoid
What are the symptoms of extra-dural
Classic lucid interval
LOC, briefly regain then lost again due to expanding haematoma
Headache
Vomit
Confusion
Seizures
Hemiparesis / hyperreflexia / upgoing plantar
What cane extra-dural lead too
Uncal herniation
3 CN palsy - fixed/. dilated pupil
CUshing’s = late
Death by res arrest
How do you Dx extra-dural haemorrhage
CT / MRI
Shows biconvex shape limited by sutures as blood pushes on brain (skull can’t move)
Hyperdense
What is CI
LP
How do you Rx extra-dural
Craniotomy May do Burr hole if unable Evacuation Airway protection Intubation, ventilation and mannitol
What are the layers of the SCALP
Skin Connective tissue Aponeurosis Loose connective tissue Periosteum (skull) Dura -> arachnoid -> pia
What is subdural haemorrhage
Blood between dura and arachnoid
Not in brain
Not normally anything there
When should you suspect subdural
Fluctuating consciousness
Evolving stroke + anti-coagulant
What causes acute subdural
High energy impact
Stretches subdural emissary veins which burst
Bridging veins connect brain to sinus
Transverse sinus > sigmoid > IJV
What causes chronic subdural
Rupture of bridging veins - which are friable in elderly
Elderly and alcoholic at risk and anti-coagulant
Shaken baby
Minor trauma
What is the brain damage in subdural
More severe than extra-dural
How does acute subdural present
Range of presentations Fluctuating consciousness Headache Personality change Raised ICP Seizure Focal neuro Coma due to coning No meningitic Sx
How does chronic present
Progressive history of confusion, reduced consciousness or neurological deficit after head injury
Headache
Who is at risk
On anti-coagulant
How do you Dx
Differences between acute / chronic
CT = 1st line MRI Diffuse concave shape not limited by sutures - blood tricked around brain as no dura to stop Hyperdense if acute Hypodense if chronic
How do you manage
Usually conservative but contact neuro-surgery
Monitor ICP
Craniotomy
Burr hole surgery
DDX
Stroke
Dementia
CNS
Weirnecke’s
What is SAH
Blood between arachnid and pia were CSF is located