Lecture 1 Flashcards
- s/s
2. s/p
- signs and symptoms
2. satus post (patient is being seen after an surgery)
- Signs
- Symptoms
- SOA
- Signs are what the clinician finds upon examination
- Patients report symptoms (ex. sore throat)
- Short of air
Traumatic Brain Injury
- TBI, insult to the brain that is not degenerative (progressive) or congenital nature (birth). Caused by an external force that may produce a diminished or altered state of conciousness. Can be caused by a shake, slap, fall, or bullet.
Epidemiology of TBI
- 1.5-1.9 million TBIs occur annually
- # 1 cause of disability in kids and young adults
- Risk factors for TBI are determined by age, ethnicity, SES, gender, substance abuse, or recurrent TBI
- Myelin (lipoprotein) not complete until 25
- We care about infants and children with this because it inhibits their growth and learning.
Risk factors for TBI
- Increased risk for persons age 15-24y
- Males > Females; 2:1
- Race is too variable
- One study found that approximately 56% of persons with TBI had a high blood OH+ level (alcohol)
- Mayo Clinic found that risk for recurrent TBI increased 2.8-3.0x for a second TBI and 7.8-9.3x for a third TBI
Closed Head Injury
- CHI-Non-penetrating; Blunt Head Trauma
- Meninges remain intact
- Skull may be fractured-brain has not been exposed
- Associated with diffuse injury
- More common than OHI (children with shaking baby syndrome) damage is widespread
Open Head Injury
- OHI- Penetrating wound
- Coverings of the brain are ruptured due to tearing of the dura by skull fragments and/or other penetrating force
- Associated with focal injury; More common in wartime (specific location in the brain)
TBI Etiologies
- Falls are the most common cause of TBI per age overall
- MVA (motor vehicle accidents) acount for 50% of TBIs persons age 15-24
- Brain Injury (BI) impacts 1in5 households (KY)
- KY BIs are (2x) USA average
- 1/3 of ED visits are due to BI
- A child’s skull is 1/8th as strong as an adults
- KY has highest # of ATV fatalities
Brain Injury and Sports/Recreation
- BI is #1 cause of sports deaths.
- 65% of sports BI occur in ages 5-18y
- Activities that cause greatest # of ED visits are bicycling, football, playground activities, basketball, horseback riding, and riding ATVs
- < 13% of sports related BI are seen in ED
- number of concussion rates are rising in females and they sustain more than males in
sports played by both sexes - Football players have a high occurrence of mTBI
- Concussions are mTBI
Primary Brain Damage
- Damage that happens at time of impact:Skull fracture
- Contusion (Bruise)
- Hematoma (Blood Clot- collection of blood)
- Laceration (cut)
- Nerve Damage (DAI- diffuse axonal injury- widespread)
- Part(s) of the brain damaged > than the size of the overall injury
Secondary Brain Damage
Damage that evolves over time following BI:
- Edema (swelling)
- Anemia
- Cardiac changes
- Increased ICP (intracranial pressure)
- Epilepsy- seizures
- Pulmonary changes
- Infection (especially with OHI)
- Hypo/Hyperthermia
- Nutritional changes
- Fever (febrile (low fever) )
- Abnormal Blood Coagulation (clotting issues)
- Other
Closed Head Injury
- BI that occurs secondary to impact causing deformation of the brain resulting in characteristic pathological changes
- MVAs, assaults, suicides, falling objects, and falls
- Leading cause of death under the age of 45y
-Accounts for 25-33% of all deaths related to trauma
Coup/Contrecoup injuries
brain acceleration vs. deceleration-deceleration of the brain- KNOW THIS- head and brain moves forward (hits the steering wheel and then the head slams back with the brain as it hits the chair)
Penetrating Head Injury
- Penetrating head injuries are less common than CHI (OHI)
- Occur secondary to the penetration of an object be it a: bullet, knife, bolt, shrapnel, nails, teeth, screwdriver, or the Eiffel Tower
- These injuries are often described as being: depressed, penetrating, or perforating
- Mortality rate appears lower for AP (anterior/posterior) wounds (25%) than lateral wounds (83%)
Depressed Head Injury
Object does not enter the cranial vault but causes a depressed fracture and cortical contusions
Penetrating Head Injury
Object enters the cranial cavity but does not pass through to the other side