Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Viva > Head Trauma > Flashcards

Head Trauma Flashcards

1
Q

What is a closed head injury

A

Associated with blunt trauma = skull fractures, focal brain injuries, diffuse brain injuries and ICP

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is an open head injury

A

Dura mater and cranial contents are penetrated, brain tissue is open to environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Main problem with scalp lacerations

A

Range from minor to very serious

Hypovolaemia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the potential complications for a skull fracture

A

Intracranial haemorrhage, cerebral damage and cranial nerve damage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a linear non displaced skull fracture

A
  • bone has broken but not moved out of alinement
  • accounts for 80% of all fractures
  • 50% occur in temporal-parietal region of skull
  • if it is open there is a risk of infection
  • potential injury to middle meningeal artery (extramural bleeding)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a depressed skull fracture and what causes it

A
  • Where part of the skull has sunken in

- High energy direct trauma to small surface area of head with a blunt object

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What regions are must susceptible to depressed skull fracture and what are its complications

A
  • frontal and parietal area of skull as the bones are thin

- Bony fragments may be driven into brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is a basilar skull fracture and how is it caused

A
  • A basilar skull fracture is a break of a bone in the base of the skull. Generally extension of linear fracture to base of skull
  • high energy trauma with impact to head.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How would you spot a basilar skull fracture

A
  • CSF fluid from ears
  • Periorbital bruising around eyes
  • Bruising behind ears over the mastoid process (known as a battle sign)
  • Facial paralysis
  • Hearing loss
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is an open skull fracture

A
  • Fracture to the skull where there is a break in the skin and an open wound
  • Brian tissue may be exposed to environment
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Complications of an open skull fracture

A
  • High mortality rate

- Associated trauma to multiple body systems

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

4 causes of traumatic brain injury

A
  • primary (direct)
  • secondary (indirect)
  • coup-contrecoup injury
  • swelling
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is a coup/contrecoup injury

A

Coup is direct injury of brain colliding with side of skull

Contrecoup is the other side of the brain colliding with the opposite side of skull as it bounces back

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What leads to an increase of intracranial pressure and what further problems does it lead to

A
  • Accumulations of blood within the skull or swelling of the brain
  • Squeezes the brain against the bony prominences within the cranium
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What does a normal MAP and ICP range from

A

MAP - 85-95mmhg

ICP - Below 15mmhg.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is CPP and how is it calculated

A

Cerebral Perfusion Pressure

CPP = MAP - ICP

The difference between mean arterial pressure and intracranial pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

How is CPP important, what does it measure

A

Pressure gradient driving cerebral flood flow (CBF) which is important for oxygen and metabolite delivery.

Homeostatic measures are in place in normal brain to auto regulate its blood flow so blood flow is always provided regardless of blood pressure by altering resistance of cerebral blood vessels

Homeostatic measures often lost in head trauma, cerebral vascular resistance usually increased and brain becomes vulnerable to changes in blood pressure. Areas of brain can become ischaemic and rely on cerebral perfusion pressure to get adequate blood flow.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is an epidural hematomas and it’s symptoms

A

Above the dura mater
Collection of blood between skull and dura mater, the outermost protective membrane covering your brain
Usually an artery gets torn by a skull fracture

Symptoms - LOC, severe headache

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is a subdural hematoma

A

Below the dura mater, split into 3 categories

Acute - similar to epidural but occurs more slowly as it is below dura. Can be either venous or arterial

Subacute - always venous and not arterial

Chronic - associated with elderly or alcoholic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is an uncal herniation

A

Rising intracranial pressure causes portions of the brain to move from one intracranial compartment to another. Compresses the 3rd cranial nerve ( oculomotor). Causes one sided pupil dilation. Life threatening emergency.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are3 types of hematomas

A

Epidural hematoma

Subdural hematoma (3 categories)

Uncal herniation

22
Q

What is normal intracranial pressure

A

15mmHg

23
Q

What is cerebral herniation

A

When brain tissues move from one part of the brain to another adjacent part of the brain. Usually causes when another condition causes swelling or pressure inside the brain.

24
Q

Signs of cerebral herniation

A

Unresponsive patient with both

  • unequal pupils or bilaterally fixed and dilated pupils
  • decerebrate posturing or no motor response to painful stimuli
25
Q

What are chemoreceptors

A

Sensors located in the central and peripheral nervous system

Detect changes in oxygen, carbon dioxide and ph levels.

Change is detected, sends message to brain to engage bodies repossess to restore homeostasis

Eg if increased levels of co2 were detected, bodies response would be to increased RR to try remove co2.

26
Q

What are barrow receptors

A

Are mechanoreceptors located in the carotid sinus and in the aortic arch.

Function - sense pressure changes by responding to change in the tension of the arterial wall. The baroreflex mechanism is a fast response to changes in blood pressure.

27
Q

What is the. 90,90,9 rule

A

Drop of Sa02 less than 90 doubles the chance of death
A drop of systolic BP to less than 90 doubles the chance of death
Drop of patients GCS to less than 9 or a drop of two or more points doubles the chance of death

28
Q

What are two types of head injury

A

Open - dura mater and cranial contents are penetrated, and brain tissue is open to environment

Closed - usually associated with blunt trauma, skull fractures, focal brain injuries or diffuse brain injuries, and ICP

29
Q

Potential complications of a skull fracture

A

Intracranial haemorrhage, cerebral damage, cranial nerve damage

30
Q

What regions if the skull is most susceptible to depressed skull fractures
And complicated of depressed skull fracture

A

Frontal and partial as bones are relatively thin

Bony fragments may be driven into the brain

31
Q

Accumulations of blood within the skull or swelling of the brain can lead to an increase of pressure within the cranial vault. What further problems does this lead to?

A

Squeezes the brain against bony prominences within the cranium

Can lead to coning - the brain is forced through a small opening at the base of the skull where it meets the spinal cord, causing respiratory and cardiovascular difficulty

32
Q

What is increased ICP

A

Accumulation of blood within the skull or swelling of the brain leading to increased of pressure within cranial vault

33
Q

What is cerebral spinal fluid and what is its function

A

Found in subarachnoid space

Cushion brain within the skull and serve as shock absorber for central nervous system

Helps with circulating nutrients and chemicals filtered from blood and removes waste products from brain

34
Q

What is the medulla oblongata and function

A

Lowest part of brain stem, where brain stem connects the brain to spinal cord

Transmit signals between spinal cord and higher parts of brain and controlling automatic activities such as heart beat and respiration.

35
Q

What is intracranial haemorrhage and symptoms of it

A

Bleeding between brain tissue and skull or within brain tissue itself. Can be life threatening

Headache, nausea, vomiting, tingling, weakness, numbness, paralysis of face arm or leg

36
Q

What is cerebral damage

A

Distruption to normal function of the brain that is caused by a blow, bump or jolt to the head, the head suddenly or violently hitting an object or when an object pierces skull and enters brain tissue

37
Q

What is cranial nerve damage

A

Damage to the cranial nerves such as the motor nerve, causing cranial nerve palsy or a sensory nerve causing pain or diminished sensation.

Cranial nerve disorder may cause pain, vertigo, hearing loss, weakness or paralysis

38
Q

What would you expect to see in mild elevation of ICP

A
  • increased BP
  • decreased pulse rate
  • patient may initially attempt to localise and remove painful stimuli, followed by withdrawal and extension
  • cheyne-stokes respiration
  • effects are reversible with prompt treatment
39
Q

What would you expect to see with moderate elevation of ICP

A

-Widened pulse pressure and bradycardia
- pupils sluggish and non reactive
- central neurogenic hyperventilation
- decerebrate posturing
- survival possible but not without neurological impairment

40
Q

What would you expect to see with marked elevation

A
  • fixed and dilated blown pupil
  • ataxic respirations
  • flaccid paralysis
    - irregular pulse rate
  • changes in QRS complex, st segment or t wave
  • fluctuating blood pressure or hypotension
    - most patients do not survive high levels of ICP
41
Q

What are Cheyne-stokes respiration’s

A

Condition causing abnormal breathing during sleep. Often includes periods of apnoeas or stopped breathing

42
Q

What are kussmaul respiration’s

A

Characterised by deep rapid breathing pattern. Typically an indication that the body or organs have became too acidic

43
Q

What are ataxic/bigot respiration’s

A

Abnormal pattern of breathing characterised by groups of regular deep inspirations followed by regular or irregular periods of apnoea

44
Q

What happens when ICP is increased, what is the normal and critical threshold for CPP, and how does body respond to decrease of CPP

A
  • ICP increased, decreases cerebral perfusion pressure and cerebral blood flow

- normal range of CPP 70-80mmHg, critical threshold of 60mmHg

  • body responds to decrease of CPP by increasing MAP, causing ICP to increase
45
Q

What is a diffuse brain injury (cerebral contusion) and S/S

A

Caused by rapid acceleration /deceleration force
Results in transient dysfunction of the cerebral cortex

Confusion and disorientation for several minutes, possible LOC

46
Q

What is the cerebral cortex

A

Thin layer of tissue often In brain often referred to as grey mater. Is grey because there is a lack of insulation of these nerves that make other nerves appear white. Covers the cerebrum.

47
Q

What is retrograde and anterograde amnesia

A

Retrograde - loss of memories that occurred before trauma injury

Anterograde amnesia - prevents new memories being formed after a traumatic injury or brain injury

48
Q

What is diffuse brain injury (axonal injury)

A

Involves stretching, shearing, or tearing of nerve fibres with subsequent axonal damage

Often results from high speed rapid acceleration/deceleration forces, causing brain to move within the skull

Axons are part of the nerve cells that allow neutrons to send messages between them are disrupted

Injury to the axon can cause brain cells to die - leads to swelling of the brain

49
Q

What is a focal brain injury (cerebral contusion)

A
  • Brain tissue is bruised or damaged in local area
  • Greater neurological deficits
  • Acceleration/deceleration forces and direct blunt head trauma
  • frontal lobe is most commonly affected
  • the reaction of the injured tissue will be to swell, leading to increased ICP
50
Q

Describe the 6 parts of GCS motor response

A 
Obeys commands
Moves to localised pain
Flexion withdrawal from pain 
Abnormal flexion (decorticate)
Abnormal extension (decerebrate)
No response
51
Q

What is Cushings triad

A

Signs that are indicative of increased intracranial pressure, increased pressure in the brain

  • bradycardia
  • irregular respiration’s
  • widened pulse pressure (large difference between systolic and diastolic pressure)
52
Q

Symptoms of increased ICP

A

Weakness, lethargy, headaches, vomiting, blurred vision, changes in behaviour

Viva (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions