Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Flashcards
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Blow or jolt to the head.
May be the result of head penetration by a foreign object.
Primary Brain Injury
Damage occurs at the time of injury.
Open vs. closed head injuries.
Mild, moderate, severe classification.
Fractures
Open Head Injury
Injury occurs when the skull is fractured or pierced by a penetrating object.
The integrity of the brain and dura is violated.
Closed Head Injury
Result of blunt trauma.
Damage to the brain depends on force and mechanism of injury.
Linear Fracture
Clean, simple break.
Depressed Fracture
Bone pressed inward toward brain tissue.
Open Fracture
The scalp is lacerated, creating a direct opening to brain tissue- high risk of infection.
Comminuted Fracture
Fragmented bone with depression into the brain tissue.
Basilar Skull Fracture
Linear fractures that occur in the floor of the cranial vault which require more force to cause than in other areas making them rare.
Racoon Eyes
Closed Head Injury: Contusion
Bruising of brain tissue, at the site of impact- coup.
Patients may have a loss of consciousness, stupor, or confusion.
Effects of the injury peak 18-36 hours later.
Closed Head Injury: Diffuse Axonal Injury
Widespread injury to the white matter of the brain. AKA shearing.
Due to high-speed acceleration/deceleration as in MVA.
Usually involves immediate coma, patients require long-term care.
Acceleration Injury
External force contacting the head, suddenly placing the head in motion.
Deceleration Injury
The moving head is suddenly stopped or hits a stationary object.
Rotational Force
Impacting the head in a nonlinear fashion, the head rotates on its axis.
Secondary Injury
The process that occurs after the initial injury.
Damage to the brain occurs due to hypoxia, ischemia, and cerebral edema.
**Increased ICP is the leading cause of death from head trauma in patients. who reach the hospital alive.
