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head trauma Flashcards

1
Q

anatomy and physiology

A

● Rigid, nonexpansile skull filled with
brain, CSF, and blood
● Cerebral blood flow (CBF) usually
autoregulated
● Autoregulatory compensation
disrupted by brain injury
● Mass effect of intracranial hemorrhage

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2
Q

monro-kellie doctrine

A

3 types:

  1. normal state - normal icp
  2. compensated state - ICP normal
  3. Decompensated state - ICP elevated
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3
Q

monro kellie doctrine diagram

A
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4
Q

volume pressure curve

A
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5
Q

intracrainal pressure

A

10mmHg = normal

>20 mm Hg = Abnormal

>40 mm Hg = Severe

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6
Q

cerebral perfusion pressure?

A

Mean Artrial Pressure (MAP) - ICP = CPP

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7
Q

autoregulation?

A

If autoregulation is intact, CBF is
maintained constant between a mean
BP of 50 to 60 mm Hg.
● In moderate or severe brain injury,
autoregulation is impaired so CBF
varies with mean BP.
● The injured brain is more vulnerable to
episodes of hypotension, causing
secondary brain injury

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8
Q

types of skull fractures?

A
  1. Vault Fractures
    a) Fissure (linear) fractures
    b) Depressed fractures
  2. Base Fractures
    Anterior, middle, posterior fossa.
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9
Q

depressed fractures?

A

Types:

1) Simple (closed)
Skin intact
Common in children
Overlying hematoma
Cerebral compression is rare

2) Compound (open)
Scalp wound and bleeding
CSF leak or protruded brain parenchyma
Infection

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10
Q

complications?

A
  1. Intracerebral hematoma
  2. Injury to venous sinuses
  3. Dural tear and infection
  4. Epilepsy
  5. Cosmetic
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11
Q

treatment

A
  1. Simple depressed fracture
    a) Conservative
    b) Surgical (elevation of depressed fracture) in case of:
    i. Large depressed segment more than one inch
    ii. Depression more than thickness of skull
    iii. Suspected dural laceration
    iv. Deficit related to underlying brain compression by depressed
    bone
    v. Cosmetic deformity
    vi. Fracture overlying air sinus
  2. Compound depressed fracture
    Antibiotics are given and the wound is explored in the operating
    theatre. Foreign bodies are removed, bone fragments are elevated
    and any dural tear is closed.
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12
Q

fracture base?

A
  1. Fracture is usually compound (open to exterior)
    leading to escape of blood, CSF, or brain matter. Risk
    of infection is present- meningitis
  2. Cranial nerve injury may occur due to laceration,
    compression by blood clot, scar or callus
  3. Associated brain injury depends on the fossa involved.
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13
Q

anterior crainal fossa injury

A

3 signs

  1. rhinorrhoea
  2. bilateral periorbital haematoma
  3. subconjuncitval haemorrhage
  4. Escape of intracranial contents (blood, CSF &
    brain)
  5. Cranial nerve injury: 1st-3rd cranial nerves
  6. Associated brain injury: concussion is usually
    severe
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14
Q

middle crainal fossa?

A
  1. Escape of intracranial contents
    a. Blood: Epistaxis. Blood will clot unless it is mixed with
    CSF. Post auricular ecchymosis (Battle’s sign)
    b. CSF escape through ears (otorrhea) mixed with blood
    c. Surgical emphysema of scalp around and behind the
    ear (fractures involving the mastoid antrum and air cells)
  2. Cranial nerve injury from 5 to 8
  3. Associated brain damage often severe

blood or SF leaking through a torn tympanic membrane must be diffeentiated rom a laceration of external meatus

Battle’s sign: brusing over the mastoid may take 24-48 hours to develop.

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15
Q

posterior cranail fossa?

A

1.Escape of fluid rarely occurs. Boggy swelling
(haematoma) or discolouration in the
suboccipital area.
2. Cranial nerve injury 9,10,11 may be damaged at
foramen magnum. Hypoglossal usually escapes
Occipital haematoma may irritate upper cervical
nerves- neck rigidity & head retraction
3. Associated brain injury: severe coma due to
injury of pons & medulla. Subtentorial herniation
may lead to bulbar compression and tonsillar
herniation. Death commonly occurs

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16
Q

defining brain injuries by morphology

A

Focal
● Epidural (extradural)
● Subdural
● Intracerebral
By Morphology – Brain Injuries

Diffuse
● Concussion
● Multiple contusions
● Hypoxic / ischemic injury

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17
Q

glasgo coma scale

A

 Has limitations in chronic conditions and those
with focal abnormalities
locked in syndrome from Pontine infarcts
 The use of numbers is not helpful in
communication
 Better to describe briefly the assessment.
Opening eyes to pain, no verbal response and flexing to
pain is better than GCS of ????

18
Q

extradural hematoma?

A

● Associated with skull fracture
● Classic: middle meningeal artery tear
● Lenticular / biconvex
● Lucid interval
● Can be rapidly fatal
● Early evacuation essential

19
Q

anatomy of muiddle meningeal artery?

A

It is a branch of maxillary artery in the
infratemporal fossa.
Middle cranial fossaforamen spinosum (above
the mid zygomatic arch point), it divides into:

a) Anterior branch which passes upwards and
forwards in a bony canal at the pterion. It
overlies the motor cortex (convulsions)

b) Posterior branch passes backwards, grooves
the temporal bone and is overlying the superior
temporal gyrus

20
Q

concussion stage?

A

Loss of consciousness starts
synchronuous with trauma
Pulse: rapid & weak. Temperature
subnormal, respiration shallow and slow
Pupils
B.P. low
Reflexes lost, sphincters relaxed
Cold clammy skin
Duration from few minutes to few hours

21
Q

lucid interval?

A

The patient regains consciousness and BP
rises enough to cause bleeding from the
injured vessels
In severe trauma patient may not regain
consciousness (no lucid interval) and
passes directly to compression stage
Lucid interval is longer if bleeding is due to
a venous cause

22
Q

compression stage

A

(uncal herniation
=tentorial herniation)
i. Consciousness gradually
deterioratesdrowsiness
/semicoma then coma
ii. Contralateral hemiparesis
due to pressure on the
ipsilateral crus
Later ipsilateral hemiparesis
also occurs
iii. The pupils show
characteristic changes
ipsilateral then
contralateral irritation
followed by paralysis of
the 3rd nerve

23
Q

mass and 3 nerve palsy

A
24
Q

eye signs

A
25
Q

treatment

A

Urgent evacuation of the
haematoma and dealing
with the bleeder must be
done before late
compression occurs

26
Q

subdural haematoma?

A

Aetiology:
Severe head injury leading to:
a) Rupture of a large cortical vein as it crosses
the subdural space to reach the fixed dural
sinus
b) Cortical lacerationhaemorrhage in subdural
space

27
Q

subdural hematoma?

A

● Venous tear / brain laceration
● Covers cerebral surface
● Morbidity / mortality due to
underlying brain injury
● Rapid surgical evacuation
recommended, especially if > 5 mm
shift of midline

28
Q

extra vs sub dural hematoma

A
29
Q

chronic subdural hematoma?

A

Aetiology:
 A trivial blow on the head
which may pass unnoticed
 The patient is predisposed by
1. Shrunken brain (old age)
2. Patient at risk of fall
(Hemiplegic, Alcoholic,
Seizures)
3. Coagulation problems:
anticoagulants, liver disease

30
Q

treatment for chronic subdural hematom

A

burr holes

craniotomy

Craniotomy – a section of your skull is temporarily removed to allow the surgeon access and remove the haematoma

31
Q

intracerebral hematoma

A

● Coup / contracoup injuries
● Most common: frontal / temporal lobes
● CT changes usually progressive
● Most conscious patients: no operation

32
Q

diffuse head injury

A

goes throughout the whole of brain

33
Q

mild brain injury

A

● GCS score = 13 – 15
● History
● Exclude systemic injuries
● Neurologic exam
● X-rays as indicated
● Alcohol / drug screens as indicated
● Liberal use of head CT

34
Q

moderate brain injury

A

● GCS score = 9 – 12
● Initial evaluation same as for mild injury
● CT scan for all
● Admit and observe
● Frequent neurologic exams
● Repeat CT scan
● Deterioration: Manage as severe head
injury

35
Q

severe brain injury?

A

● GCS score = 3 – 8
● Evaluate and resuscitate
● Intubate for airway protection
● Focused neurologic exam
● Frequent reevaluation
● Identify associated injuries

36
Q

when to give ct

A

those with battle sign

or

high risk

● GCS score still < 15 two hours after injury
● Neurologic deficit
● Open skull fracture
● Sign of basal skull fracture
● Extremes of age

or moderate risk

● “Dangerous mechanism”
● Retrograde amnesia > 30 minutes in
duration
● Severe headache
● Vomiting > 2 episodes

37
Q

how to manage

A

● ABCDE
● Minimize secondary brain injury
● Administer oxygen
● Maintain adequate ventilation
● Maintain blood pressure
(systolic > 90 mm Hg)

● Controlled ventilation
● Goal: Paco2 at 35 mm Hg
● Intravenous fluids
● Euvolemia
● Isotonic
● Consult with neurosurgeon
● Mannitol
● Use with signs of tentorial herniation
● Dose: 0.25 to 1.0 g / kg IV bolus

 Mannitol
Osmotic Diuretic
Positive inotrope
Free radial scavenger
Use with signs of tentorial herniation
 Dose: 1.0 g / kg IV bolus
 Consult with neurosurgeon

● Other medications
● Anticonvulsants
● Sedation
● Paralytics

38
Q

surgical managment

A

● Scalp Wounds
● Possible site of major blood loss
● Direct pressure to control bleeding
● Occasional temporary closure

scalp injuries

  1. Skin
  2. Connective tissue (b.v.
    and nerves)
  3. Aponeurosis (galea
    aponeurotica)
  4. Loose areolar tissue
  5. Pericranium (skull
    periosteum firmly
    attached at the sutures)
39
Q

scalp hematomas

A
  1. Subcutanous
  2. Subgaleal
  3. Subperiosteal (Cephalhematoma)
40
Q

manage scalp hematomas

A

surgicaly

● Intracranial Mass Lesion
● Can be life-threatening if expanding rapidly
● Immediate neurosurgical consult
● Hyperventilation / mannitol
● Damage control craniotomy: transfer to
neurosurgeon (rural / austere areas)

41
Q

how to diagnose brain death

A
42
Q
A

neuroscience (13 decks)

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