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What nerves carry information from the body to the brain threw the spinal cord?
Sensory nerves
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The central nervous system (CNS) includes what?
Brain and spinal cord
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Another word for bruise
Contusion
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Can the brain sustain a contusion?
Yes
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What intercranial bleeding is beneath the dura.
Subdural hematoma
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Brain injuries are not always a result of ___?
Trauma
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Signs and symptoms of head injury
- Lacerations, contusions, or hematomas to the scalp
- Soft area or depression upon palpation
- Visible fractures or deformities of the skull
- Ecchymosis about the eyes or behind the ear over the mastoid process
- Clear or pink CSF leakage from the scalp wound, the nose, or the ear
- Failure of the pupils to respond to light
- Unequal pupil size
- Loss of sensation and/or motor function
- A period of unconsciousness
- Amnesia
- Seizures
- Numbness or tingling in the Extremities
- Irregular respirations
- Dizziness
- Visual complaints
- Combative or other abnormal behavior
- Nausea or vomiting
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What MOI should you suspect spinal injury?
- Motor vehicle crashes
- Pedestrian-motor- vehicle collisions
- Falls
- Blunt trauma
- Penetrating trauma to the head, neck or torso
- Motorcycle crashes
- Hangings
- Diving accidents
- Recreational accidents
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What questions do you ask in your initial assessment in a pt with a head injury
- 1. What happened?
- 2. Where does it hurt?
- 3. Does your neck or back hurt?
- 4. Can you move your hand ( fingers ) and feet ( toes )?
- 5. Did you hit your head?
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Glascow coma scale
- Eye Opening Response
- • Spontaneous--open with blinking at baseline 4 points
- • To verbal stimuli, command, speech 3 points
- • To pain only (not applied to face) 2 points
- • No response 1 point
- Verbal Response
- • Oriented 5 points
- • Confused conversation, but able to answer questions 4 points
- • Inappropriate words 3 points
- • Incomprehensible speech 2 points
- • No response 1 point
- Motor Response
- • Obeys commands for movement 6 points
- • Purposeful movement to painful stimulus 5 points
- • Withdraws in response to pain 4 points
- • Flexion in response to pain (decorticate posturing) 3 points
- • Extension response in response to pain (decerebrate posturing) 2 points
- • No response 1 point
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Do not move the head if the pt complains of what?
- Muscle spasms of the neck
- Substantial increased pain
- Numness, tingling, or weakness in the arms or legs
- Compromised airway or ventilations
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