Head/Spine Trauma

Question 1

Spinal cord injury is caused when one or more of the cervical vertebrae dislocate and are forced into the spinal canal

Ex:
Rapid acceleration/deceleration
Hangings
Facial skeletal or soft tissue trauma

Answer 1

Subluxation

Question 2

Sudden lateral impact moves the torso sideways results in dislocations and fx to c-spine and t-spine

Ex:
T bone collision
Contact sports

Answer 2

Lateral Bending

Question 3

C-spine is stopped suddenly while the weight and momentum of the body pull away from it

Ex:
Hangings

Answer 3

Distraction

Question 4

A complete or incomplete lesion to the spinal cord

Answer 4

Transection

Question 5

Hyperextension or flexion cervical injuries

Paralysis of upper arms legs remain functional

Answer 5

Central cord syndrome

Question 6

Vertical compression of the spine results when direct forces are sent down the length of the spinal column

Ex: 
windshield 
Shallow dive
Vertical falls
Struck on the head

Answer 6

Axial Loading

Question 7

Flexion injuries
Caused by pressure on anterior spine by a ruptured intervertebral disk or fragment of vertebrae forced posteriorly into the spinal canal
Decreased sensation of pain and temp below level of lesion
Intact light touch and position
sensation
Paralysis

Answer 7

Anterior cord syndrome

Question 8

Hemitransection of spinal cord
Ruptured disk or pushing of vertebrae into the spinal cord
Weakness on injured side loss of pain/sensation on opposite side

Ex:
Knife or missile injuries

Answer 8

Brown-sequard syndrome

Question 9

Nipple line dermatome

Answer 9

T4

Question 10

Stick em up

Answer 10

C6

Question 11

Fanning of the toes with dorsiflexion of the big toe

Normal in children under 2 y/o

Answer 11

Babinski’s sign

Question 12

Bleeding between the skull and scalp

Answer 12

Subgaleal hematoma

Question 13

Star shaped ballistic wounds

Answer 13

Stellate wounds

Question 14

Straight lines on x ray
Not depressed
No scalp laceration

Answer 14

Linear fracture

Question 15

Small object hitting the head at high speed
W/ scalp lac
Frontal and parietal

Answer 15

Depressed skull fx

Question 16

Opening between a scalp lac and brain tissue

Answer 16

Open vault fx

Question 17

Head injury results in petechial bruising tissue
Assoc. w/ Basilar skull fx

Initially unconscious
Persistent confusion

Answer 17

Moderate diffuse axial injury

Question 18

Severest brain injury
Severe mechanical shearing of many axons in both cerebral hemispheres extending to the brainstem

Unconscious for prolonged periods
Abn posturing and signs of ⬆️ ICP

Answer 18

Severe Diffuse Axonal Injury

Question 19

Cushings Triad

Answer 19

⬆️ systolic BP

Widened pulse pressure

⬇️ pulse rate

Irregular respiratory pattern

Question 20

Arterial (middle meningeal artery) 
Lucid intervals then loc 
Headache 
Lethargic 
Rapid

Answer 20

Epidural hematoma

Question 21

Venous bleed
Assoc w/blunt head trauma and skull fx
24hrs to 2 weeks
H/A
N/V
ALOC
coma
Posturing

Answer 21

Subdural hematoma

Question 22

Intracranial bleeding into the cerebrospinal fluid
Trauma, aneurysm rupture
Sudden severe headache 
Dizzy 
Neck stiffness
Unequal pupils
N/V
Seizures
Loc

Answer 22

Subarachnoid hematoma

Question 23

GCS 9 to 13

Answer 23

Moderate brain injury

Question 24

GCS

Answer 24

Severe brain injury