Traumatic Brain Injury 1

Question 1

Traumatic Brain Injury

Answer 1

An insult to the brain caused by an external force that may produce an altered state of consciousness, but results in impaired physical or cognitive function.

Question 2

Causes and Risks for TBI

Answer 2

Most common cause is MVA’s, followed by assaults, sport injures and workplace accidents. Risk factors include being young or unemployed, male, low education, low SES and alcohol use.

Question 3

Contact Force TBI

Answer 3

Head is still and receives a blow from a moving object.

Question 4

Inertial Force TBI

Answer 4

Damage caused by sudden changes to the forces acting on the brain.

Question 5

Acceleration Forces

Answer 5

Translational (forward/backwards), rotational (side to side) and angular (combination of translational and rotational).

Question 6

Contusion

Answer 6

Focal damage to brain tissue and vessels, often on the surface of the brain (i.e. crests of the gyri) but can occur deeper.

Question 7

Laceration

Answer 7

Tearing of the pia or arachnoid mater, with shredding of neurons on the surface of the brain as it rubs against the inside of the skull.

Question 8

Coup and Contrecoup Injuries

Answer 8

Contusions occur at the point of impact (coup) but also on the part of the brain opposite to the point of contact (contrecoup) as a result of rebounding.

Question 9

Shearing

Answer 9

A consequence of angular forces is shearing of neurons and blood vessels. Neurons stretch, bend and break as a result of the forces, which causes the neurons to die.

Question 10

Diffuse Axonal Injury

Answer 10

Results when the head comes to a rapid stop from high speed. Axons tear and stretch, resulting in retraction balls and swelling of the damaged neurons. This causes diffuse damage.

Question 11

Concussion

Answer 11

Caused by a blow to the head or angular forces. Mild concussion has no LOC and mild confusion. Classic concussion results in LOC at the instant of trauma, rigidity and possibly seizures.

Question 12

Epidural Haematoma

Answer 12

Blood filled swelling that occurs between the brain and the skull.

Question 13

Subdural Haematoma

Answer 13

Blood filled swelling that occurs between the meninges (dura mater) and the brain.

Question 14

Intracerebral Haematoma

Answer 14

Blood filled swelling that occurs within the brain tissue (often in the frontal or temporal lobes).

Question 15

Secondary Injuries of Closed Head Injuries

Answer 15

Increased intracranial pressure, brain swelling (hydrocephalus), hypoxia, fever and infection.

Question 16

Penetrating Head Injury

Answer 16

Due to an object penetrating the skull and either lodging in the brain or passing through. Damage depends on the area of penetration, type of object and the object’s speed. High risk of infection.

Question 17

Post Traumatic Amnesia

Answer 17

Period of time following a TBI in which the person is confused and unable to learn new information. Used as an indicator of TBI severity over LOC.