NEUROLOGICAL PATHOLOGIES - Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Flashcards
What are the difference between ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURIES (ABI) and TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI) ?
ABI is an Injury caused to the brain since birth whereas, TBI is a brain injury caused by trauma to the head.
What are the two types of ABI ?
- Traumatic
- Non Traumatic
What are the sign and Symptoms depending on the different areas of the brain affected by an ABI ?
- ) FRONTAL LOBE
- motor control and speech - ) PARIETAL LOBE
- Somatic sensation - ) OCCIPITAL LOBE
- Visual Input - ) TEMPORAL LOBE
- interpretation of sound - ) CERENELLUM
- coordination
What are the Medical treatments available for ABI ?
- Emergency department
- Neuro surgery ( Brain Injury Unit )
- Specialist Neuro-Rehabilitation Unit
- Community care
How do you Diagnose someone with a Brain Injury ?
BRAIN IMAGING
- ) CT / CAT SCAN
- It produces a black and white image
- uses x-ray and a computer to create the image. - ) MRI SCANS
- Uses strong Magnetic Fields and radio waves to produced a detailed image.
What are the different stages of ABI coma & reduced awareness states ?
a. ) VEGETATIVE STATE
- person have a sleep wake cycles but no conscious awareness of themselves &
surroundings.
b. ) MINIMALLY CONSCIOUS STATE
- Shows distinct but limited signs awareness and response to stimulation.
c. ) LOCKED - IN SYNDROME (rare)
- Person is aware of themselves & surroundings but unable to move / speak.
What are the possible causes of TBI ?
- Road Traffic Collisions
- Being Shaken Violently
- Sports Related Activities
- Slipping / falling
- Act of Violence
What are the different types of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) ?
1.) CLOSED HEAD INJURY
- No break in the skin and it occur during acceleration / deceleration of the head, where
the head rocks back and fro causing a DIFFUSE AXONAL BRAIN INJURY.
- ) OPEN WOUNDS
- break into the skin causing bleeding to the head - ) CRUSHING INJURIES
- This is when two objects on either side of the head crushes the brain & skull.
What are the different types of HEMORRHAGE ?
- ) EPIDURAL HEMATOMA
- Bleeding between the dura and the skull - ) SUBDURAL HEMATOMA
- Bleeding between the Dura and Arachnoid matter - ) SUBRACHNOID HEMORRHAGE
- Bleeding within the Arachnoid space ( aneurysm ) - ) INTRACEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE
- stroke
What are the immediate signs and symptoms of TBI
- DIIFICULTY CONCENTRATING (confusion)
- CHANGES IN CONSCIOUSNESS
- HEADACHE & DIZZINESS
- SWELLING AT THE SITE OF INJURY
- CHANGES IN MOOD / PERSONALITY
- INABILITY TO REMEMBER
- DIFFICULTY WITH BREATHING & SPEECH
List some medical management for TBI.
1.) OXYGEN AND BREATHING ASSISTANCE
- being intubated for mechanical ventilation on arrival at hospital
2.) CONTROLLING HR AND RHYTHM
- medication given via infusion, they’re also sedated to reduce consciousness level.
3.) FLUIDS / BLOOD TRANSFUSION / MEDICATION
- Its used to raised BP
4.) ANTI - SEIZURE MEDICATION
- Seizures occur due to a build up of pressure / fluid around the brain tissue.
( swelling / inflammation increases fluid production )
What are the causes of a Non Traumatic Brain Injury ?
- TUMOUR
- STROKE
- CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING
- MENINGITIS
- BRAIN HAEMORRHAGE
Non Traumatic Brain Injury :
What is Anoxic brain injury ( cerebral anoxia ) ?
Its a complete interruption of the supply of O2 to the brain.
Non Traumatic Brain Injury :
What is Cerebral Hypoxia ?
This means there is a partial supply of O2, but at a level which is inadequate to maintain normal brain function.
What are the causes of ANOXIC BRAIN INJURY ?
- Cardiac & Respiratory Arrest
- Suffocation / chocking / strangulation
- Severe asthma attack
- Exposure to high Altitude
- Smoke / Carbon Monoxide Inhalation
- Electric shock
- Poisoning / Drug overdose
- Attempted Suicide
