Trauma Final Flashcards
femur fracture
-only facture we apply traction to
Primary Blast
- damage is caused by pressure wave generated by explosion
- close proximity to the origin of the pressure wave carries a high risk of injury or death
- can rupture membranes and affect organs
- Tympanic membrane is the most sensitive
- we are most concerned about lungs
Secondary Blast
- result from being struck by flying debris
- a blast wind occurs
- flying debris may cause blunt and penetration injuries
- most common
Tertiary Blast
- occur when a person is hurled against stationary, rigid objects
- ground shock
- amputations, broken bones, penetrations
Quaternary Blast
- occur from the miscellaneous events that occur during an explosion
- may include:
- burns
- respiratory injury
- crush injury
- entrapment
Quinary Blast
- caused by biologic, chemical, or radioactive contaminants added to an explosive
- associated with dirty bombs
Shock
- Not producing energy normally (aerobic) -> less perfusion (anaerobic)
- patent airway, functioning lungs, adequate circulation and perfusion = aerobic metabolism
- obstructed airway, impaired lung function (hypoxia), impaired circulation (hypoperfusion) = anaerobic metabolism
- lactic acid build up -> acidic
- secondary to hypoperfusion
- delivery of oxygen is inadequate to meet metabolic demands
- decreased energy production
- cellular and organ death
Triangle of Death
- acidosis- what little ATP is being produced is used to shiver -> lactic acid production increases
- hypothermia
- coagulopathy- cold impairs blood clotting
Hypovolemic Shock
- Hemorrhagic:
- most common cause of hypoperfusion after trauma
- Treat with fluids
- Pulse increases
- BP decreases
- Decreased pulse pressure
- Increase ventilation rate
- Decrease urine output
- Decreased LOC
- Dehydration
- loss of plasma (burns)
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Distributive Shock
- Neurogenic:
- lack of tone
- associated with spinal cord injury
- interruption of the sympathetic nervous system resulting in vasodilation
- patient has normal blood volume but vascular container has enlarged -> thus decreasing blood pressure
- warm, dry skin temp
- pink skin color
- BP drops
- lucid
- normal capillary refill
- Septic
- Anaphylactic
- psychogenic
Cardiogenic Shock
- pump failure
- pericardial tamponade- fluid between pericardial sac and heart muscle -> cant expand
- tension pneumothorax- pressure does not allow blood to come back to heart
- results from external compression of the heart
- less blood is ejected with each contraction
- cool, clammy skin temp
- pale, cyanotic skin color
- BP drops
- consciousness is altered
- capillary refill is slowed
XABCDE
- X- Xanguation
- A- Airway
- B- Breathing
- C- Circulation
- D- Disability
- E- Exposure
- primary assessment
I PASS O2
- I- inspection
- P- palpation
- A- auscultation - 4 places- aortic, pulmonic, tricuspid, and mitral valves
- S- seal holes
- S- stabilize flail segments- two or more ribs broken in two or more places
- O- oxygen/ventilation
Breathing Assessment
- look, listen, feel for 5-10 sec
- assess rate in value of breaths per minute
- ventilate the patient if they are not breathing
- ensure a patient airway and compliance with ventilation
- ensure oxygen delivered is 85% or greater
- make sure you are having mechanical compliance -> chest rise
- depth is just as important
- if the patients is breathing you must think about the quality/efficacy of that patients efforts
- 12-20 is normal
Epidural
under normal circumstance it does not exist, middle meningeal arteries follow grooves in the temporal bone here
DCAP- BTLS
- D- deformities
- C- contusion
- A- abrasions
- P- punctures
- B- burns
- T- tenderness- pain only when you touch it
- L- lacerations
- S- Swelling
Dura Mater
- Made of rough fibrous tissue
- forms Tentorium: divides cerebrum and cerebellum
Subdural space
- Space that is spanned with Veins
- Low pressure
- may take a while to show symptoms
Arachnoid Space
Covering over the brains vasculature
Subarachnoid Space
Gap in which brains vasculature runs
Pia Mater
Thin covering Directly over the brain.
Medulla Oblongata
- Acts as a pathway for ascending and descending nerve tracts
- Regulations of heart rate, blood vessel diameter, breathing, swallowing, vomiting, coughing, sneezing
Brainstem
Contains Midbrain, Pons, Medulla
Pons
- Contains ascending and descending nerve tracts
- Relays information from the cerebrum to cerebellum
- Houses the sleep center and respiratory center
- Like medulla helps in the regulation of breathing
Midbrain
- Involved in hearing through audio pathways in the CNS
- Responsible for visual tracking of moving objects, turning the eyes
- Coordinates regulation of the automatic functions that require no conscious thought
CPP (cerebral perfusion pressure)
MAP - ICP
MAP
diastolic + (⅓ pulse pressure)
-minimal is 60 to perfuse organs
Basal Skull Fractures
- may tear dura
- permit CSF to drain through an external passageway
- May mediate the rise of ICP
- Evaluate for target or halo sign -> clear part of the CSF will be on the outside ring of a blood drop coming from the ear
Basal Skull Fracture: Battle Signs
- retroauricular ecchymosis - bruising behind ear
- associated with fracture of auditory canal and lower of skull
Basal Skull Fracture: Raccoon Eyes
- bilateral periorbital ecchymosis
- associated with orbital fractures
direct brain injury categories: focal
- occur at a specific location in brain
- differentials:
- cerebral contusion
- intracranial hemorrhage:
- >epidural hematoma
- >subdural hematoma - intracerebral hemorrhage
Focal Injury: cerebral contusion
- blunt trauma to local brain tissue
- capillary bleeding into brain tissue
- common with blunt head trauma
- confusion
- neurologic deficit
- personality changes
- vision changes
- speech changes
- result from coup-contrecoup injury
Focal Injury: intracranial hemorrhage: epidural hematoma
- bleeding between dura mater and skull
- blood is where the brain should be -> herniation
- involves arteries - middle meningeal artery most common
- rapid bleeding and reduction of oxygen to tissues
- patients will have lucid interval
- unconscious goes unconscious again
Focal Injury: Intracranial hemorrhage: subdural hematoma
- bleeding within meninges
- beneath dura mater
- above arachnoid
- slow bleeding- superior sagittal sinus
- signs progress over several days
- slow deterioration of mentation
- blood is displacing the brain
Focal Injury: intracranial hemorrhage
- ruptured blood vessel within the brain
- presentation similar to to stroke symptoms
- Signs and symptoms worsen over time
ICP cascade
cranial insult -> tissue edema -> increased ICP -> compression of arteries -> decrease cerebral blood flow -> decrease O2 with death of brain cells -> edema around necrotic tissue -> increase ICP with compression of brain stem and respiratory center -> CO2 accumulates -> vasodilation -> increase ICP due to increased blood volume -> death
- compresses brain tissue
- herniates brainstem
- compromises blood supply
- vomiting
- Altered mental status
- Pupillary dilation
Glasgow Coma Scale
- eyes: Spontaneous (4); Responds to Command (3); Responds to Pain (2); Nothing (1)
- verbal: Spontaneous (5); Disorganized,. Confused (4); Nonsensical (3); Moaning and Groaning (2); Nothing (1)
- Motor: Spontaneous (6); Localizes Pain (5); Withdrawals from Pain (4); Decorticate (3); Decerebrate (2); Nothing (1)
Cushing Reflex
- increased BP
- bradycardia
- erratic respirations
- these 3 symptoms are really only ever seen together for brain injury
Diffuse Injury
- Due to stretching forces placed on axons
- Pathology distributed throughout brain
- Types:
- Concussion
- Moderate diffuse axonal injury- classic concussion
- Severe diffuse axonal injury- brainstem injury, deadly, cushings
Cervical Spine
-7
-C1 (atlas):
• Supports head
• Securely affixed to the occiput
• Permits nodding
-C2 (axis)- Odontoid process (dens) -> Projects upward and Provides pivot point so head can rotate
-C7- Prominent spinous process (vertebra prominens)
Spine
- 33 bones in the spine
- Lumbar spine is the strongest and largest
Thoracic Vertebrae
- 12
- 1st rib articulates with T-1
- Attaches to transverse process and vertebral body
- Next nine ribs attach to the inferior and superior portion of adjacent vertebral bodies
- Limits rib movement and provides increased rigidity
- Larger and stronger than cervical spine
- Larger muscles help to ensure that the body stays erect
- Supports movement of the thoracic cage during respirations
Lumbar Spine
- 5
- Bear forces of bending and lifting above the pelvis
- Largest and thickest vertebral bodies and intervertebral disks
Sacral Spine
- 5 fused
- Form posterior plate of pelvis
- Help protect urinary and reproductive organs
- Attach pelvis and lower extremities to axial skeleton
Coccygeal
- 3–5 fused
- Residual elements of a tail
Pedicles
Thick, bony structures that connect the vertebral body to the spinous and transverse processes
Laminae
Posterior bones of vertebrae that make up foramen
Transverse Process
Bilateral projections from vertebrae; muscle attachment and articulation location with ribs
Spinous Process
Posterior prominence on vertebrae
Intervertebral Discs
Cartilaginous pad between vertebrae that serves as shock absorber
Vertebral Ligaments: Anterior Longitudinal
- Anterior surface of vertebral bodies
- Provides major stability of the spinal column
- Resists hyperextension
Vertebral Ligaments: Posterior Longitudinal
- Posterior surface of vertebral bodies in spinal canal
- Prevents hyperflexion
Incomplete Cord Transection: Anterior Cord Syndrome
Anterior vascular disruption
Loss of motor function and sensation of pain, light touch, and temperature below injury site
Retain motor, positional, and vibration sensation
Incomplete Cord Transection: Central Cord Syndrome
- Hyperextension of cervical spine
- Motor weakness affecting upper extremities
- Bladder dysfunction
Incomplete Cord Transection: Brown Sequard Syndrome
- Penetrating injury that affects one side of the cord
- Ipsilateral (same side) sensory and motor loss
- Contralateral pain and temperature sensation loss
Spinal Shock
- Temporary insult to the cord
- Affects body below the level of injury
- Hypotension secondary to vasodilation
- Affected area:
- Flaccid
- Without feeling
- Loss of movement (flaccid paralysis)
- Frequent loss of bowel and bladder control
- Priapism
Neurogenic Shock
- AKA Spinal-Vascular Shock
- Occurs when injury to the spinal cord disrupts the brain’s ability to control the body
- ANS loses sympathetic control over adrenal medulla
- Unable to control release of epinephrine and norepinephrine -> Loss of positive inotropic and chronotropic effects
- Cool, moist, and pale skin above the injury
- Warm, dry, and flushed skin below the injury
- Male: priapism
- Loss of sympathetic tone:
- Dilation of arteries and veins -> Expands vascular space and results in relative hypotension
- Reduced cardiac preload
- Reduction of the strength of contraction -> Frank-Starling reflex
- Bradycardia
- Hypotension
Neurogenic Shock
- AKA Spinal-Vascular Shock
- Occurs when injury to the spinal cord disrupts the brain’s ability to control the body
- ANS loses sympathetic control over adrenal medulla
- Unable to control release of epinephrine and norepinephrine -> Loss of positive inotropic and chronotropic effects
- Cool, moist, and pale skin above the injury
- Warm, dry, and flushed skin below the injury
- Male: priapism
- Loss of sympathetic tone:
- Dilation of arteries and veins -> Expands vascular space and results in relative hypotension
- Reduced cardiac preload
- Reduction of the strength of contraction -> Frank-Starling reflex
- Bradycardia
- Hypotension