Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic Brain Injury
Mild
Moderate
Severe
Very severe
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
discharge criteria in minor and mild head injury.
GCS 15/15 with no focal deficits
Normal CT brain
Patient not under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Patient accompanied by a responsible adult
Verbal and written head injury advice: seek medical
attention if: ● Persistent/worsening headache
despite analgesia ● Persistent vomiting ●
Drowsiness ● Visual disturbance ● Limb weakness
or numbness
CONCUSSION:
Concussion is defined as alteration of
consciousness as a result of closed head
injury, but is generally used in describing mild
head injury without imaging abnormalities; loss
of consciousness (LOC) at the time of injury is
not a prerequisite.
Key features :
confusion and amnesia.
lethargic, easily distractable, forgetful, slow to
interact or emotionally labile. Gait disturbance
and incoordination
MODERATE AND SEVERE
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
MANAGEMENT:
RESUSCITATION:
HISTORY
● preinjury state (fits, alcohol, chest pain)
● mechanism and energy involved in the injury (speed
of vehicles, height fallen)
● conscious state and haemodynamic stability of the
patient after the accident
medication history ; anticoagulants and antiplatelet
agents
PRIMARY SURVEY
● Ensure adequate oxygenation and
circulation
● Exclude hypoglycaemia
● Check pupil size and response and Glasgow
Coma Scale score as soon as possible
● Check for focal neurological deficits before
intubation, if possible
SECONDARY SURVEY
● Battle’s sign, periorbital bruising and
blood in ears/nose/ mouth may point to
base of skull fracture
● Cervical spine fractures are common
and must be actively excluded
● Log-roll to check whole spine for steps
and tenderness, and for per rectum exam
SURGICAL MANAGEMENT:
CLOSED LINEAR FRACTURE-
CONSERVATIVE
OPEN OR COMMINUTED-DEBRIDEMENT
AND BROAD SPECTRUM ANTIBIOTICS
DEPRESSED-EXPLORATION AND
ELEVATION
FRACTURE SKULL BASE:
KEY FEATURES:
OTORRHEA
RHINORRHEA
NECK STIFFNESS
PHOTOPHOBIA
FEATURES OF RAISED ICP
TREAMENT:CRANIOTOMY AND
PROCEED
THERAPEUTIC EMBOLISATION
NIMODIPINE-60 mg 4hrly x 21 days
Cerebral contusions
found predominantly where brain is in
contact with the irregularly ridged inside
of the skull, i.e. at the inferior frontal
lobes and temporal poles.
heterogenous on CT
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT
ICP CONTROL:
SEDATION OPTIMISATION
CORRECTION OF SERUM SODIUM
DIURETICS IN ICH
ANTICONVULSANTS AND ANALGESICS
ANTIEMETICS
ANTIBIOTICS
Key parameters to maintain in head-
injured patients in neurointensive care.
pCO2 = 4.5–5.0 kPa
pO2>11 kPa
MAP = 80–90 mmHg
ICP 60 mmHg
[Na+ ] >140 mmol/L
[K+ ] >4 mmol/L
TRAUMATIC SPINE INJURY
ANATOMY:
MANAGEMENT
PERTINENT HISTORY:
mechanism and velocity of injury
spinal pain
onset and duration of neurological
symptoms
SUSPICION OF SPINE INJURY?:
ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
HANGING
PENETRATING INJURY
BLUNT TRAUMA
ANY UNRESPONSIVE TRAUMA PATIENT
GUNSHOT WOUNDS
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:
RESPIRATORY DISTRESS
PAIN WITH MOVEMENT
TENDERNESS ALONG SPINE
NUMBNESS, TINGLING , LOSS OF SENSATION
IN EXTREMITIES
PARALYSIS OR PARAPLEGIA
INCONTINENCE
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
Initial assessment
• primary survey
• careful systems examination
• paying particular attention to the abdomen
and chest. Spinal cord injury may mask
signs of intra-abdominal injury.
Spinal examination
• overlying entire spine must be
palpated. spinal log roll
• Significant swelling
• tenderness
• palpable steps/gaps
A rectal examination
Seatbelt marks on the abdomen and
chest must be noted
Neurological examination
DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING:
PLAIN RADIOGRAPH
• anteroposterior and lateral radiographs
open mouth views.
• Clear visualisation of the cervicothoracic
MRI
MANAGEMENT OF SPINAL AND
SPINAL CORD INJURIES
ABCD
SPINAL IMMOBILISATION
CORTICOSTEROIDS:
• <3 hrs BOLUS 30mg/kg , INFUSION FOR
24 hrs @5.4 mg/kg/hr
• 3-8 hrs BOLUS + INFUSION FOR 48 hrs
• >8 hrs NO ROLE
SURGERY-ONLY IF PROGRESSIVE
NEURODEFICIT
Identification of shock
● Hypovolaemic shock. Hypotension with
tachycardia and cold clammy peripheries.
● Neurogenic shock. Hypotension, a
normal heart rate or bradycardia and
warm peripheries.
treated with inotropic support
● Spinal shock
paralysis, decreased tone and
hyporeflexia. Once it has resolved the
bulbocavernosus reflex returns.
Complications associated with spinal
cord injury
• Pressure Sores
• Pain and spasticity
• Autonomic dysreflexia
• Thromboembolic events
• Osteoporosis, heterotopic ossification
and contractures
THANK YOU