Head trauma Flashcards
1
Q
What are the two types of head trauma?
A
blunt
penetrting
2
Q
Describe penetrating head injuries?
A
focal damage to the brain - lacerations in the region of brain damage
3
Q
Is high or low velocity penetrating head injuries worse?
A
high velocity
cavitation follows leaving more injury to the brain than the size of the penetrant
4
Q
Describe blunt head injuries?
A
sudden acceleration/decceleration of the head
smaller the contact time - larger the force
5
Q
What are the coup and contra-coup sides?
A
coup = side that gets hit contracoup = side that gets. rebounded
6
Q
What are the different types of skull fractures?
A
linear - straight sharp fracture line that may cross sutures
compound - associated with full thickness scalp lacerations
depressed - like compound
