Trauma Flashcards
What does DCAPBTLS stand for?
Deformities, Contusions, Abrasions, Punctures, Burns, Tenderness, Lacerations, Swelling
What clinical signs may indicate a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Loss of or decreased consciousness
- Loss of memory or events before or after the event (amnesia)
- Focal neurological deficits e.g. muscle weakness, loss of vision, change in speech
- Disorientation, slow thinking or difficulty concentrating
What is Cushing’s triad a sign of?
Increased intracranial pressure (ICP)
What are the three components of Cushing’s triad?
- Bradycardia
- Widened pulse pressure
- Irregular respiration
What are the 4 main types of skull fractures?
- Linear skull fractures
- Depressed skull fractures
- Diastatic skull fractures
- Basilar skull fractures
What are signs of a Basilar skull fracture?
Mastoid Ecchymosis and Bi-Lateral Periorbital Ecchymosis
What is an epidural hematoma?
A blood clot underneath the skull, but on top of the dura.
What is a subdural hematoma?
A blood clot underneath and skull and underneath the dura, but outside of the brain.
Mild head injury/concussion is defined by?
- Loss of consciousness of less than 30 minutes
- Post-traumatic amnesia of less than 24 hours after injury
What is a spontaneous pneumothorax defined as?
An abnormal accumulation of air in the pleural space, than can result in the partial or complete collapse of a lung
What makes a spontaneous pneumothorax primary?
Because it occurs in the absence of lung disease such as emphysema.
What are the first, non-severe signs & symptoms of a spontaneous pneumothorax?
- Sharp chest pain, made worse by a deep breath or a cough
- Shortness of breath
A larger pneumothorax will cause more severe symptoms such as?
- Chest tightness
- Easy fatigue
- Rapid heart failure
- Bluish colour of the skin caused by lack of oxygen
- Nasal flaring
- Chest wall retractions
