Injuries of the Head & Neck Flashcards
What can trauma to the head result in?
Focal injury (contusion, bleeding) Diffuse injury (entire brain) Diffuse axonal injury
What are two types of focal intracranial injuries?
Contusion (bruising/swelling) and haematoma
What are three types of haematoma?
Epidural, subdural and intra-cerebral
What is an epidural haematoma?
Rupture of middle meningeal artery associated with skull fracture
What is a subdural haematoma?
Disruption of bridging veins
What is an intra-cerebral haematoma?
Arterial
What investigations are used for focal intracranial injuries?
MRI, CT
What is the treatment for a focal intracranial injury?
Depends on nature of injury, may require surgery
What percentage of patients admitted to spinal cord injury units in Australia come from sporting injuries?
5%
What are the types of neck injuries?
Soft tissue, bone injury (fracture), joint injury, spinal cord injury, nerve injury
What is the common cause of soft tissue neck injuries (sprains/strains)
Flexion - compression of intervertebral disc, tension of posterior structures/ligaments/spinal cord/nerve roots
What are the different types of neck fractures?
Flexion, flexion with rotation, axial compression, high velocity, forced hyperextension
What are spinal cord injuries caused by?
Anatomical disruption, haemorrhage, ischaemia
What is spinal shock?
Complete inhibition of reflexes, normal pulse, decreased blood pressure
What are burners?
Traction of the nerve root caused by lateral flexion of the neck
