Head & Spinal injuries
HEAD INJURIES
HISTORY
Type of accident-
Level of consciousness-
Post traumatic amnesia & Retrograde traumatic amnesia-
Vomiting-
Epileptic fits or seizures-
Swelling & pain in the head-
Other complaints-
Past history-
Personal history-
Family history-
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
Head-
Position of the patient-
Depth of unconsciousness-
Bleeding from the nose, ear or mouth-
Eyes-
Pulse & Blood pressure-
Respiration-
Temperature-
Presence of neurological deficits-
Rigidity of the neck-
Cranial nerves-
Other CNS manifestations-
CLASSIFICATION OF HEAD INJURIES
Injury to the scalp-
Injury to the vault of the skull- Fracture of the vaults of the skull are mainly caused by- (i) compression of the sphere, (ii) by local indentation and (iii) by tangential injury
Injury to base of the skull-
Fracture of the anterior cranial fossa-
Fracture of the middle cranial fossa-
Fracture of the posterior cranial fossa-
Injury to the duramater-
Injury to the brain-
Cerebral concussion-
Cerebral contusion-
Cerebral irritation-
Cerebral laceration-
Injury to the blood vessels-
Escape of cerebrospinal fluid-
Injury to the cranial nerves-
EXAMINATION OF SPINAL INJURIES
HISTORY-
EXAMINATION FOR SPINAL CORD INJURIES:
UPPER LIMBS-
Attitude-
Sensation-
Muscle power-
LOWER LIMBS-
Attitude-
Muscle power-
Sensation-
Reflexes-
EXAMINATION OF THE SPINAL COLUMN-
Inspection-
Palpation-
Percussion-
Movements-
Rectal examination-
DIAGNOSIS-
FRACTURE OF THE SPINE-
Burst fracture-
Backward hinge (Extension injury)-
Forward hinge (Flexion injury)-
Shearing force-
Dislocation of the spine-
Injury to the cord-
Cord concussion (shock)-
Complete contusion of the cord-
Root transection-
Traumatic intra-spinal haemorrhage-