Head Injuries
The brain has been injured, but there is no opening to the brain.
Closed Head Injury
What parts make up the spine?
Cervical
Thoracic
Lumbar
Sacrum
Coccyx
Shock that develops in a patient with a head injury is the result of what?
Hypovolemia caused by bleeding from other injuries
What do rigid cervical collars provide?
preliminary, partial support
The central nervous system (CNS), and the peripheral nervous system(PNS)
Two anatomic parts of the nervous system
A mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a bump, blow, jolt, or hit to the head that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull
How does hyperextension occur?
When the spine is pulled along its length fractures in the spine can be caused as well as ligament and muscle injuries
What maneuver is used when there is an airway obstruction and why
Jaw Thrust maneuver because using the head-tilt chin lift will extend the neck and cause further damage to the cervical spine
What is the four-person log roll?
the recommended procedure for moving a patient with a suspected spinal injury from the ground to a long backboard or other spinal precaution device
The canal formed by the vertebrae that encloses and protects the spinal cord and meninges
Spinal canal
A traumatic insult to the brain capable of producing physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and vocational changes
Traumatic Brain Injury
This is when a deformity is felt or observed in the spine
Step-off
What are the three general principles that protect and maintain the critical functions of the CNS?
Establish an adequate airway
Control bleeding and provide adequate circulation to maintain cerebral perfusion
Assess patient’s baseline of LOC and Continuously monitor it
What are long backboards used for?
to minimize cervical spine motion in patients who are found in any position
Coordinates the various activities of the brain, particularly fine body movements.
Cerebrum
A bruise on the brain tissue caused by a direct impact to the head.
Contusion
What is rotation-flexion a result of and where is it likely to happen?
Rapid acceleration forces
C1 and C2
You should never force a patients head into a neutral in-line position. With that being said when should you stop the movement of the head
When patients reports:
Muscle spasms in the neck
Substantial increased pain
Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms or legs
And compromised airway or ventilations
When should a cervical collar be applied?
to every patient who has a possible spinal injury based on the MOI, history, or signs and symptoms
Produced in a chamber inside the brain, called the third ventricle. is located in the subarachnoid space below the arachnoid. There is approximately 125 to 150 mL of this in the brain at any one time. Primarily acts as a shock absorber. The brain and spinal cord essentially float in this fluid, buffered from injury.
Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)
What are patients at risk for when they are leaking CSF?
Bacterial Meningitis
What happens to the patients vertebral body when compressed by forces
Herniation of disks, subsequent compression of the spinal cord and nerve roots, and fragmentation into the spinal canal
What is Cushing Triad?
Hypertension, bradycardia, and irregular respirations (Cheyne-Stokes respiration or Biot respiration)
What do you do if there is a patient sitting with a possible spinal injury and they cannot stand and pivot to the stretcher?
use a short backboard or other short spinal extrication device to restrict movement of the cervical and thoracic spine
The outer layer of meninges; is a tough, fibrous layer that closely resembles leather. This layer forms a sac to contain the CNS, with small openings through which the peripheral nerves exit.
Dura mater