Types of Head Injuries
This type of head injury occurs when the brain is bruised or damaged due to impact, often causing swelling or bleeding in the brain.
What is a contusion?
A common sign of increased intracranial pressure that involves the pupils reacting slowly to light or being unequal in size.
What is pupil dilation or anisocoria?
The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) assesses a patient's level of consciousness based on three factors: eye opening, verbal response, and this third factor.
What is motor response?
This is the first step in managing a patient with a suspected acute head injury to stabilize their condition.
What is securing the airway?
A serious complication of head injury, characterized by bleeding in the brain, leading to potential brain damage or death.
What is intracranial hemorrhage?
This is the medical term for a traumatic brain injury that causes bleeding between the skull and the dura mater.
What is an epidural hematoma?
A common early sign of brain injury where the patient experiences short-term memory loss and confusion.
What is amnesia?
This is the best method to assess a patient's neurovascular status after a head injury, especially for signs of brain herniation.
What is a neurological assessment (including pupillary response, GCS, and motor function)?
If a patient with a head injury has decreased consciousness, this type of position should be used to ensure proper breathing and reduce the risk of aspiration.
What is the lateral recovery position?
This condition involves temporary or permanent loss of brain function in specific areas due to an injury, affecting cognitive, motor, or sensory skills.
What is neurological deficits?