NEURO FINAL

Question 1

Leading cause of death in children older than 1 year

Answer 1

Head Trauma

Question 2

% of children who will suffer head injuries serious enough for medical attention

Answer 2

1 in 4 or 25%

Question 3

of children who die each year as a result of a brain injury

Answer 3

10 / 10,000

Question 4

% of head injury survivors who acquire significant disabilities

Answer 4

20%

Question 5

2nd-ary Disabilities

Answer 5

Memory Loss
Seizures
Developmental & Cognitive Delays
ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)

Question 6

Head Injuries - Adolescents

Answer 6

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Question 7

Head Injuries - School Age

Answer 7

Bicycle

Question 8

Head Injuries - Infants

Answer 8

Shaken baby syndrome

Question 9

Coup

Answer 9

Point of impact (acceleration injury from initial impact)

Question 10

Counter Coup

Answer 10

Head goes back (deceleration - bruising of the brain as it goes back and hits the skull)

Question 11

Sheering

Answer 11

Shifting of brain back and forth. Causes vessels to rupture, and causes damages to the nerves [trauma occurs as brain moves over skull floor, and subdural vessels are torn]

Question 12

Primary Head Injury

Answer 12

Occur at time of trauma. 4 specific types:

1. Concussion (most common)
2. Fracture
3. Contusion & Laceration (have to have a fracture in order to have a laceration)
4. Inter-cranial hemorrhage, hematoma

Question 13

Head fractures in infants

Answer 13

In infants, scalp hematoma suggest underlying skill fracture

Question 14

Subdural Hematoma

Answer 14

Bleeding between dura and brain
More common in children (would see this in shaken baby)
Rupture of a vein
3 types, dependent on timing –>
1. Acute: within 24 hours
2. Sub-acute: 2 - 10 days
3. Chronic: weeks after the initial injury

Question 15

Epidural Hematoma

Answer 15

Bleeding between the dura and the skull
Rupture of an artery in temporal lobe
Happens much quicker, much more severe
Always acute (within 24 hours)
Most symptoms are the same as Subdural Hematoma PLUS
1. Contra-lateral weakness (weakness on opposite side)
2. Increase in deep tendon reflexes

Question 16

Cerebral Edema

Answer 16

Changes in cerebral blood flow following a head injury. Can present with headaches, vomiting, and changes in LOC

Question 17

Indicators of Brain Stem Injury

Answer 17

1. Pupillary Size
2. Irregular Respiratory Rhythm
3. Bi-laterally Fixed Pupils

Question 18

When MUST you go to hospital

Answer 18

1. Loss of consciousness

2. Vomited 2+ times

Question 19

Cushing’s Triad

Answer 19

See “Tri” and think 3!

1. Irregular respirations (caused by impaired brainstem)
2. Bradycardia (slow HR)
3. Systolic Hypertension (widening pulse pressure)

Question 20

Cerebral Edema?

Answer 20

Can take 24 - 48 hours to form

Question 21

Seizures

Answer 21

Brief malfunction of the brain’s electrical system resulting from excessive, abnormal discharge of neurons.

Question 22

Febrile

Answer 22

NOT considered epilepsy
Occur with a very high fever, or a rapid increase in temp
6 months - 3 years
Generalized & last under 5 mins (both sides. tonic/clonic)
30-40% will only have 1 occurrence
Usually begins with URI or GI infection
Benign: do NOT give anti-convulsant
Medications: generally treat the cause (antibiotic for infection) & Tylenol to lower the fever