management of neurologic disorders. what is traumatic brain injury? closed – head collides with...
TRANSCRIPT
What is Traumatic Brain Injury?Closed – head collides with another object but there is no opening through the skull and duraOpen – object penetrates the skull, enters the brain and damages the soft brain tissue in its path. Exposes the brain
STATISTICS
Annual number of people who experience a traumatic brain injury:
• 1. 4 million annually in the United StatesDeaths: 50,000Hospitalization: 235,000Among children ages 0 to 14 yearsDeaths: 26, 850Hospitalizations: 37,000Number of Americans living with a traumatic brain
injury: Approximately 5.3 million
CLASSIFICATION OF TBI:MILD
• loss of consciousness and/or confusion and disorientation is shorter than 30 minutes
• The person looks normal and often moves normal in spite of not feeling or thinking normal.
SEVERE• loss of consciousness for
more than 30 minutes and memory loss after the injury or penetrating skull injury longer than 24 hours
• Results in permanent neurobiological damage that can produce lifelong deficits to varying degrees.
CONCUSSION vs CONTUSIONCONCUSSION
• Temporary loss of neurologic function with no apparent structural damage lasting for a few seconds to few minutes
• Jarring of the brain that caused it to stop functioning momentarily
CONTUSION
• More severe injury in which the brain is bruised, with possible surface hemorrhage
• Unconscious for more than a few seconds or minutes
• Picture is somewhat similar to that of shock
MAINTAINING THE AIRWAY• Keep unconscious patient in a position that facilitates
drainage of oral secretion• Establish effective suctioning procedures• Guard against aspiration and respiratory insufficiency• Monitor for pulmonary complications
MAINTAIN HYDRATION & ADEQUATE NUTRITION• Fluid is administered through the IV for nutrition and
liquid. • A urinary catheter is put in the bladder for urine collection. • It is important to maintain the unconscious patient's blood
pressure through IV fluid and medication.
MAINTAINING SKIN INTEGRITY• The patient is turned and positioned in bed• A compression device wrapped around the
legs that prevents blood clots. Daily injections are also given to prevent blood clots.
SEIZURE PRECAUTION• Dilantin is the usual medication administered
through the IV to prevent seizures. A tetanus shot also may be given.
RECOVERY
• Duration of Coma. The shorter the coma, the better the prognosis.
• Post-traumatic amnesia. The shorter the amnesia, the better the prognosis.
• Age. Patients over 60 or under age 2 have the worst prognosis, even if they suffer the same injury as someone not in those age groups.
SPINAL
CORD
What is it?Spinal cord injuries cause myelopathy or damage to white matter or myelinated fiber tracts that carry signals to and from the brain. It also damages gray matter in the central part of the spine, causing segmental losses of interneurons and motorneurons.
STAGES
• Stage of spinal shock • sensation and motor power localized below the vertical height
of the lesion are lost. This stage lasts for 2 to 3 weeks in humans, and hours to days in other animals due to a lesser degree of encephalitis.
• Stage of recovery • after a period typically ranging from 2 to 3 weeks of injury, the
nerves partially recover, and the return of segmental reflexes produce paraplegia-in-flexion.C. Stage of reflex failure
• after a period of days the recovered reflexes again start to give way due to complete degeneration of nerve cells.
SYMPTOMS
The location of the injury
• In general, injuries that are higher in your spinal cord produce more paralysis.
The severity of the injury.
• Spinal cord injuries are classified as partial or complete, depending on how much of the cord width is damaged.
COMPLICATIONSThrombophlebitis• Measures such as ROM exercises, thigh-high elastic
compression stockings, adequate hydration and anticoagulation medications (heparin and warfarin ) as prescribed are given
Orthostatic Hypotension• Activity should be planned in advance and adequate time
given for a slow progression of position changesAutonomic Dysreflexia• Stimuli that may trigger this: distended bladder ( most
common ); distention or contraction of visceral organs, especially the bowel; or stimulation to the skin