Traumatic Brain Injury Flashcards
TBI
damage to the brain from an external mechanical or blunt force accompanied by a loss of consciousness, posttraumatic amnesia, skull fracture, or other unfavorable neurologic findings attributed to the event
Incidence and Cuase
Most common cause of death and disability in youth between 16 and 30. Leading causes are falls, MVA, Striking or being struck by an object, Assault. Strong link with substance use
Focal Brain Injury
direct blow to the head resulting from collision with external object, a fall, or a penetrating injury
Multifocal and Diffuse Brain Injury
sudden deceleration of the body and head, possibly from a motor vehicle, bicycle, or skateboard accident or a fall from high surface
Decorticate Rigidity
UEs are in spastic flexed position with internal rotation and adduction. LEs are in spastic extended position, internally rotated and adducted
Decerebrate Rigidity
UE and LEs are in spastic extension, adduction, and internal rotation. Wrist and fingers flexed, planter portions of feet flex and inverted, trunk extn and head retracted
Cerebellum Damage
ataxia
Midbrain damage
impaired righting reflexes
Basal Ganglia Damage
absence of equilibrium reactions and protective extn
Limited Joint Motion
resulting from increased muscle tone, volitional resistance, contractures, heterotrophic ossification, fractures or dislocations
Continuum of Consciousness
Coma < Vegetative State < Minimally Conscious State
Coma
absence of response to environmental stimuli, no evidence of sleep/wake cycle, no intentional movement, eyes do not open
Vegetative State
no awareness or ability to interact with self or environment, no sustained/reproducable/voluntary/behavior response to stimuli, no apparent receptive language comprehension or verbal expression, sleep wake cycles of variable length, can self-regulate temp, breathing, circulation for survival, incontinence, variable and unpredictable cranial nerves and reflexes,
Minimally Conscious State
Ability to follow commands, gestural or verbal yes-no response, intelligible verbalizations, purposeful movement
Glasgow Coma Scale: Motor Responses
- no response
- rigid and extended response to pain (decerebrate)
- flexion in response to pain (decorticate)
- Pulls Part of body away in response to pain
- Purposeful movement to painful stimulus
- obeys commands to perform various movements
Glasgow Coma Scale: Verbal Responses
- No response
- incomprehensible speech
- inappropriate words
- confused conversation but able to answer words
- Oriented to Person/place/time
Glasgow Coma Scale: Eye Opening
- no response
- To pain only
- When asked with loud voice
- Spontaneous - opens eyes on own
RLA: I (No Response)
no response - completely unresponsive to any stimuli presented
RLA: II (Generalized Response)
exhibits inconsistent and nonpurposful reactions to stimuli
RLA: III (Localized Response)
Reacts specifically to stimuli, though inconsistently
RLA: IV (Confused/Agitated)
heightened state of activity with severely decreased ability to process information
RLA: V (Confused/Inappropriate/Non agitated)
appears alert with fairly consistent reactions, although increased complexity of commands cause more random responses
RLA: VI (Confused/Appropriate)
exhibits goal-directed behavior but is dependent on external input for direction
RLA: VII (Automatic/Appropriate)
behaved appropriately and is oriented to place and routine, but frequently displays shallow recall