FINAL EXAM - TBI Flashcards
(82 cards)
Acquired Brain injury (ABI)
an injury to the brain that is not hereditary, congenital, or degenerative
Causes of Non traumatic brain injury (5)
- anoxia
- infections
- strokes
- tumors
- metabolic disorders
Causes of Open TBI -5 (penetrating injuries)
- assaults (gun shots, stabbint)
- falls
- accidents
- abuse
- surgery
Cause of Closed TBI - 4 (internal pressure and shearing)
- assaults
- falls
- accidents
- abuse
TBI
an alteration in brain fn or toher evidence of brain pathology caused by an external force
Open TBI causes an increased risk of (3)
- infection
- hematomas
- cranial nerve damage
Mechanics of TBI - Coup-Contre Coup injury
Coup = blow to the brain anteriorly Contrecoup = conunter-blow posteriorly (contusion, swelling, blood clots)` Rotational forces (shearing, twisting)
Mechanics of TBI - diffuse axonal injury Cause Results in Axons Zone of axons
caused by twisting, stretching, and sometimes tearing of nerve fibers
Once an axon is damaged it causes permanent death of the brain cell
Axons are responsible for sending signals away from the brain.
Zone of axons die = “swiss cheese” - holes in the brain
Primary injuries occur at the time of impact. Includes:
- skull fx
- intracranial hematomas
- cortical contusions
- lacerations, and penetrating wounds
Hematomas
bleeding in the brain which can cause shifting or compression of the brain matter. Pressure pushes down on brainstem. Can cause death
Types of hematomas (4)
- epidural
- subdural (most dangerous)
- intracerebral
- subarachnoid
Secondary injuries evolve over a pd of hrs or days. Include (6)
- increased intracranial pressure effects (caused by cerebral edema, hydrocephalus, brain herniation syndromes)
- focal ischemia
- decreased cerebral perfusion pressure
- risk of infection with open injuries
- risk of seizure
- other acute effects (DVT, HO, …)
Diagnosis of Brain injury
- CT scan or MRI - evidence of gross damage to the brain
- xray
- eeg
- neurological exam
- ICP monitor
- angiogram
Decerebrate posture results from
damage to the upper brain stem
Decerebrate
arms are adducted and extended, with wrist pronated and the fingers flexed. legs are stiffly extended, with plantar flexion of the feet. Higher level of fn on motor scale
Decorticate posture results from
damage to one or both corticospinal tracts
Decorticate posture presentation
arms are adducted and FLEXED, with wrist and fingers flexed on the chest. Legs are stiffly extended, ir, with planter flexion of the feet
Glasgow coma scale
tests eye opening, motor, and verbal commands. Score is out of 15, the higher the better
Rancho Los Amigos: Level I
No Response: Total Assist
No response to pain,touch, sound or site
Rancho Los Amigos: Level II
Gerealized Response: Total Assit
Generalized reflex response to pain
Rancho Los Amigos: Level III
Localized Response: Total Assist
Demonstrates withdrawal or vocalization to pain full stimuli. Responds inconsistently to commands
Rancho Los Amigos: Level IV
Confused/Agitated: Max Assist
Agitated. Very active, alert, or bizarre behaviors, performs motor activities but behavior is not purposeful. Extremely short attention span
Rancho Los Amigos: Level V
Confused Inappropriate, Non-Agitated: Max Assist
Gross attention to the environment, highly distractible, required continual redirection, difficulty learning new tasks, agitated by too much stimulation, may engage in social conversation but with inappropriate verbalization
Rancho Los Amigos: Level VI
Confused Appropriate: Mod Assist
Inconsistent orientation to time and place, retention span /recent memory impaired, recall past, consistently follows simple direction, goal directed behavior with assistance