SAQ Formative Flashcards
1) A 79 year old woman is brought to the Emergency Department by her daughter following a fall the previous morning. The daughter is concerned that her mother seems increasingly confused which is unlike her.
Examination finds a large scalp haematoma and bilateral periobital ecchymosis (bruising). The pupil in one eye is also found to be dilated and does not constrict in response to light.
a) With reference to your understanding of the scalp layers, explain how the bruising around the eyes may be linked to the scalp haematoma. (2 marks)
Bleeding in LOOSE CONNECTIVE TISSUE layer (1 MARK) of scalp can spread anteriorly under aponeurosis as far as attachment of FRONTALIS MUSCLE (0.5 MARK), which is to TISSUES/MUSCLES AROUND THE ORBIT (0.5 MARK)
1) A 79 year old woman is brought to the Emergency Department by her daughter following a fall the previous morning. The daughter is concerned that her mother seems increasingly confused which is unlike her.
Examination finds a large scalp haematoma and bilateral periobital ecchymosis (bruising). The pupil in one eye is also found to be dilated and does not constrict in response to light.
b) An anterior cranial fossa fracture can also cause periorbital
ecchymosis to develop.
Name the two bones forming the anterior cranial fossa. (2 marks)
- Frontal bone- orbital plates (1 mark)
- Ethmoid bone- cribriform plate (1 mark)
1) A 79 year old woman is brought to the Emergency Department by her daughter following a fall the previous morning. The daughter is concerned that her mother seems increasingly confused which is unlike her.
Examination finds a large scalp haematoma and bilateral periobital ecchymosis (bruising). The pupil in one eye is also found to be dilated and does not constrict in response to light.
c) The patient is sent for an urgent CT head which is shown below.
i) What does the CT image show (1 mark)?
Right (0.5) subdural haemorrhage (0.5)
