TBI Flashcards
Why do we classify a brain injury
to determine prognosis for recovery for an individual who has experienced a TBI
How do we classify a brain injury (4)
chronicity
etiology of injury
level of arousal
cognitive function
regarding chronicity, the rate of recovery is greates during the first ___ years, b/c of the inpact of ___ ___ ___
2
spontaneous neural recovery
During the chronic timeframe (>2 yrs post-injurty), recovery is more related to
rehab and lifestyle choices
regarding etiology of injury, individuals with a more __ injury, usually have a better prognosis than individuals with a more ____ injury
focal
diffuse/global
Low velocity injuries have ___ outcomes than higher velocity injuries
better
____ level is measured at the time of injury and is predictive of ___ of injury. it is measured using the
arousal
severity
glasgow coma scale
a 15 pt scale based on the responsiveness of the individual according to 3 areas
glasgow coma scale
what are the 3 areas scored in the glasgow coma scale
motor response
verbal response
eye opening response
Scoring of glasgow coma scale
mild TBI > or equal to 13
Severe TBI < or equal to 8
Best score 15
How is cognitive function measured
Ranchos Los Amigos Scale of Cognitive Function
Rancho Level 1
No response
Rancho Level 2
Generalized response
a. decerebrate (everything extended)
b. decorticate (flexed)
c. chewing (vertical opening and closing)
decerebrate
everything extended Rancho 2
decorticate
everything flexed Rancho 2
Rancho Level 3
Localized response
a. visual tracking
b. withdrawal
Rancho Level 4
confused and agitated
Rancho Level 5
confused and inappropriate (non-agitated)
Rancho Level 6
confused and appropriate
Rancho Level 7
Automatic and appropriate
Rancho Level 8
purposeful
4 etiologies of TBI
Direct contact injuries
Ruptured cerebral aneurysms
Acceleration and deceleration injuries
Hypoxic injuries
Brain injuries involving an event where a stationary object or moving object forecfully contacts the head
direct contact injury
4 closed head injuries
concussion
cerebral contusion
epidural hemorrhage or hematoma
chronic subdural hematoma
rapid onset of neurological impairments following a minimal head injury which may or may not include loss of consciousness
concussion
areas of focal brain injury where there are multiple micro-hemorrhages into brain tissue. Damage frequently occurs from brain tissue moving against intracranial structures
cerebral contusion
damage to tissue on the side of the skull opposite to the impact
countrecoup cerebral contusion
management for crebral contusion
reducing intracranial pressure and maintaining cerebral perfusion pressure
impaired body functions with cerebral contusion
focal weakness, paresthesia, incoordination, aphasia, and difficulty with cognitive tasks
damage to major vessels including tearing of middle meningeal artery, middle meningeal veins or dural sinus resulting in blood accumulating in the epidural space
epidural hemorrhage or hematoma
_____ ____ neurological impairments are highly indicative of an ____ _____
progressively worse
intracranial hemorrhage
Hematomas are identified on
CT or MRI
management of epidural hemorrhage or hematoma
surgery (craniotomy and evacuation)
stretching of tiny veins in the subdural space, which ultimately tears the veins and blood accumulates. This occurs slowly over time (often several weeks) before symptoms become apparent
chronic subdural hematoma
Chronic subdural hematoma is most common in
older adults, where the veins are already stretched do to atrophy of brain tissue
management of chronic subdural hematoma
surgery (Burr hole craniostomy)
impairments include poor balance, hemiparesis, headache, slurred speech, dementia and lethargy
chronic subdural hematoma
open head injuries are called _____
penetrating injuries
Prognosis - recovery from direct contact injuries is usually ___ or ____, depending on the intensity or extent of the injury. Closed head injuries usually have ___ prognosis than penetrating injuries
good, fair, better
brain injuries usually associated with a minor direct contact injury, along with a cerebral aneurysm (weakness in the wall of the arteries usually in the ___ __ ___)
ruptured cerebral aneurysms
circle of willis
most common cause of a subarachnoid hemmorrhage
ruptured cerebral aneurysm
bleeding into the CSF (the subarachnoid space) from small vessels, usually resulting from a ruptured aneurysm
subarachnoid hemorrhage
diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage
identified on CT scan following an acute, severe headache, comfirmed with lumbar puncture (presence of RBCs in CSF)
management of subarachnoid hemorrhage
maintain cerebral perfusion and reduce likelihood of rebleeding from the aneurysm via surgery (clipping of aneurysm)
causes of ruptured cerebral aneurysms
direct contact injuries (fall, MVA, etc)
prognosis of ruptured cerebral aneurysms
recovery of this type of injury depends on the size and location of the aneurysm. Aneurysms with larger size and those located in more POSTERIOR circulation have worse prognosis