Medical Abbreviations
TBI
Traumatic Brain Injury
What assessment is used to assess the level of impairment in a spinal cord injury?
ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS)
An infarct on the right side of the brain typically causes impairment on which side of the body?
Left
What does CHI stand for?
Closed head injury
What chronic medical condition does Eleanor have?
Type 1 Diabetes
CVA
Cerebrovascular Accident
True or False: All spinal cord injuries are traumatic?
False: Several non-traumatic causes of spinal cord injuries including degenerative disorders, tumors, vascular conditions, and autoimmune/inflammatory diseases.
What is the difference between an ischemic stroke and a hemorrhagic stroke? Which is more common?
Ischemic stroke caused by a blockage, like a blood clot. Hemorrhagic stroke cause by a leak or a rupture. Majority of strokes (87%) are ischemic.
What common scale is used to describe the cognitive and behavioral level of brain injury patients as they recover?
Ranchos Los Amigos
How old is Eleanor?
11
GCS
Glasgow Coma Scale
The most common incomplete SCI which occurs at the cervical level. It is characterized by significant impairments in the UE and less so in the LE. Can be caused by hyperextension of the neck.
Central Cord Syndrome
A stroke in which hemisphere is more likely to cause language deficits?
Left
What do the following acronyms stand for:
SDH
SAH
ICH
Subdural hematoma
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Intracranial hemorrhage
What sport does Eleanor play?
Volleyball
DVT
This syndrome typically occurs around L2-sacrum and develops from arthritis, inflammation, tumors, or other non-traumatic causes. It is characterized by back pain, bowel/bladder dysfunction, motor and sensory loss of BLE, and “saddle anesthesia”.
Cauda Equina Syndrome
What is permissive hypertension and why is it used?
This is a technique where the medical team intentionally keeps a stroke patient's BP higher than usual for 24/48 hours. This is done in order to protect the brain by increasing blood flow to the affected area and promoting recovery.
Which Ranchos level is characterized by confusion and inappropriate responses?
Ranchos level 5
What grade will Eleanor be in?
6th grade
NIHSS
National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale
This common complication from SCI is caused by a noxious stimulus below the level of injury (Full bladder/UTI, tight clothing, wounds, etc.). Symptoms include elevated BP, headaches, sweating/flushing, and “goosebumps”.
Autonomic Dysreflexia
What is tPA or TNK used for?
They are powerful blood thinners used to break up blood clots in people experiencing ischemic strokes. There is only a short window of time for the administration of both, generally between 0-4.5 hours of onset of symptoms.
What sort of injury is caused when the brain moves backward and forward quickly inside the skull as a result of acceleration and deceleration?
Diffuse axonal injury (DAI)
What is Eleanor's favorite color?
Blue