Traumatic Brain Injury Flashcards
Open Injury
direct penetration through skull to brain
location, depth, and pathway determine extent of damage
Ex: gunshot, knife/sharp object penetration, skull fragments, direct trauma
Closed Injury
injury to brain w/o penetration through skull
Ex: concussion, contusion, hematoma, injury to extracranial blood vessels, hypoxia, drug overdose, near-drowning, acceleration/deceleration injuries
Primary Injury
Initial injury to brain via impact
Ex: skull penetration, skull fracture, contusion of gray/white matter
Coup Lesion: direct lesion of brain under point of impact due to rebound effect of brain post impact
Contrcoup Lesion: injury on opposite side of brain due to rebound effect of brain post impact
Secondary Injury
damage occuring as response to inital injury
Ex: hematoma, hypoxia, ischemia, increased intracrania pressure, post-traumatic epilepsy
Epidural hematoma: hemorrhage between skull and dura mater
Subdural hematoma: hemorrhage due to venous rupture between dura and arachnoid
Levels of Consciousness: Coma
state of unconsciousness/ level of unresponsiveness to all internal and external stimuli
Levels of Consciousness: Stupor
state of general unresponsiveness w/ arousal occurring from repeated stimuli
Levels of Consciousness: Obtudity
state of consciousness characterized by sleep, reduced alertness to arousal, delayed response to stimuli
Levels of Consciousness: Delirium
state of consciousness characterized by disorientation, confusion, agitation, and loudness
Levels of Consciousness: Clouding of Consciousness
state of consciousness characterized by quiet behavior, confusion, poor attention, and delayed responses
Levels of Consciousness: Consciousness
state of alertness, awareness, orientation and memory
Risk Factors
#1 motor vehicle accidents falls, high risk behaviors, gunshot wounds
Mortality Rates
1.7 million people sustain TBI annually
52,000 die from trauma
80,000 experience long-term impairment/disability
