Neurology Flashcards
What is the leading cause of death in children older > 1 year
Head trauma
What are the four common reasons for head trauma in children?
- Falls
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Bicycle injuries
- Abuse
Which age is most susceptible to head trauma due to falls?
Toddlers
1-3 years
- Which age is most susceptible to head trauma due to abuse?
- What are potential signs?
- Infants
- Hematoma and/or fracture
Birth to 1
What two underdevelopment puts children at risk for acceleration-deceleration injury?
- cervical musculoligamentous*
- Skull
immature neck muscles
What two injuries do acceleration-deceleration injury cause?
- Shearing of blood vessels and nerves
- Bruising of brain
What is the most common primary head injury?
Concussion
What are the two hallmark symptoms of concussions?
- Amnesia
- Confusion
- Which tool is used to perform a quick assessment of concussions?
- If quick assessment is positive for concussion what would be next assessment?
- Pocket Concussion Recognition Tool
- Sports Concussion Assessment Tool
Define
Second impact syndrome
condition in which a second concussion occurs before a first concussion has properly healed
can cause rapid/severe brain swelling and death
What is the Return to Learn/Play plan?
When is it used?
Criterias to engage back in academic/sports settings following a concussion.
Define
Concussion
immediate/transient alteration in brain function* resulting from mechanical force or trauma
alteration of mental status and level of consciousness
Define
Contusion
Brusing or petechial hemorrhages that occur on the brain
Which can be seen with a CT or MRI scan?
Concussion or Contusion?
Contusion
Brusing shows on CT; Bleed shows on MRI
Which primary head injury is considered local? Which is considered broad?
Concussion vs. Contusion
- Contusion is a local injury
- Concussion is broad injury
What does the nurse suspect if a scalp hematoma is present in an infant?
or retinal hemorrhaging
Shaken baby syndrome
Which type of hemorrhage/hematoma occurs more commonly with skull fractures?
Subdural hemorrhage/hematoma
Which type of hemorrhage/hematoma do you suspect for the following symptom “brief period of unconsciousness; followed by lucid period; followed by rapid progression into unconsciousness”
Lucid = consciousness
Epidural hemorrhage/hematoma
- Which type of brain hemorrhage/hematoma is more dangerous?
- Why?
- Epidural hemorrhage/hematoma
- Rupture of menigeal artery in temporal lobe.
*Bleeding happens quickly due to artery, risk of aneurysm
Shaken baby syndrome can cause which type of hemorrhage/hematoma?
Subdural hemorrhage/hematoma
Which type of hemorrhage/hematoma effects veins?
Subdural hemorrhage (hematoma)
Which type of hemorrhage (hematoma) effects arteries?
Epidural hemorrhage (hematoma)
Remember where does it cause a rupture?
Where does bleeding occur for epidural hemorrhage (hematoma)?
Bleeding occurs between dura and skull.
Where does bleeding occur for subdural hemorrhage/hematoma?
Bleeding occurs between dura and brain.
Which hemorrhage/hematoma can occur days or even weeks after initial injury?
Subdural hemorrhage/hematoma
What are the four reasons to go to the hospital for head trauma?
- Loss of consciousness for more than a few mins
- Seizures
- Neurological signs
- Vomiting more than 2x.
What are the first three things conducted on a diagnostic evaluation for head trauma?
- Stablize spine
- Circulation, Airway, Breathing (CAB)
- Evaluate for shock*
S&S include: HR ↑, BP ↓, perfusion ↓ to extremities, changes in LOC.
What should you tell parents about monitoring a child post-head injury at home?
- Check consciousness q2h.
- Re-examine in 1-2 days by practitioner*
Risk of cerebral edema
Signs and symptoms of what?
- Headaches
- Visual and balance problems (dizziness)
- Nausea
- Depression
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Changes in sleep patterns
- New phobias
- Changes in behavior
Postconcussion syndrome
What score should the nurse be concerned with on the Glasgow Coma Scale?
Score < 8
Lower scores correlate w/ severity
What is a sign for neurosurgical emergency with head trauma?
Fixed and dilated pupils
Risk of herniation into brain stem
What is Cushing triad?
Late signs of increased intracranial pressure (ICP)