Medical Abbreviations
Spinal Cord Syndromes
Stroke
Brain Injury
Eleanor
100

TBI

Traumatic Brain Injury

100

What assessment is used to assess the level of impairment in a spinal cord injury?

ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS)

100

An infarct on the right side of the brain typically causes impairment on which side of the body?

Left

100

What does CHI stand for?

Closed head injury


100

What chronic medical condition does Eleanor have?

Type 1 Diabetes

200

CVA

Cerebrovascular Accident

200

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.

200

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.

200

What common scale is used to describe the cognitive and behavioral level of brain injury patients as they recover?

Ranchos Los Amigos

200

How old is Eleanor?

11

300

GCS

Glasgow Coma Scale

300

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

300

A stroke in which hemisphere is more likely to cause language deficits?

Left

300

What do the following acronyms stand for:

SDH 

SAH

ICH

Subdural hematoma 

Subarachnoid hemorrhage

Intracranial hemorrhage

300

What sport does Eleanor play?

Volleyball

400

DVT

Deep Vein Thrombosis
400

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

400

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.

400

Which Ranchos level is characterized by confusion and inappropriate responses?

Ranchos level 5

400

What grade will Eleanor be in?

6th grade

500

NIHSS

National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale

500

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

500

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.

500

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)

500

What is Eleanor's favorite color?

Blue