Head Injury
Head Injury
Head Injury
Classification
Based on severity- GCS
Primary or secondary brain injury
Severit GCS
y
Minor
15, no LOC
Mild
14 or 15, with
LOC
Mortali
ty
0.1%
Moderat 9-13
10%
**Motor
score: best predictor of neurological
e
outcome
Severe
3-8
40%
Brain injury
PRIMARY
SECONDARY
Often preventable
Principle causes:
Extradural haematoma
(EDH)
Neurosurgical emergency
Nearly always associated with a skull fracture
o skull fracture is associated with tearing of a meningeal artery
and a haematoma accumulates in the space between bone
and dura meter
Clinical presentation
Initial injury
Lucid interval - headache but is fully alert and orientated with
no focal decit
Rapid deterioration (after minutes or hours)
contralateral hemiparesis
reduced conscious level
ipsilateral pupillary dilatation
CT scan appearance
Unilateral
Biconvex (lentiforms or lens
shaped)
Hyperdense lesion
Sharply demarcated
Does not cross suture line
Associated with mass effect on
underlying brain
With or without midline shift
Subdural haematoma
(SDH)
Clinical presentation
impaired conscious level from the time of injury
further deterioration as the haematoma expands
CT scan appearance
Unilateral
Crescent (concave)
Hyperdense (acute blood)
Crosses suture line
Midline shift
Chronic SDH
Bilateral
subacute SDH
Acute on
Chronic SDH
PRINCIPAL
MANAGEMENT OF HEAD
TRAUMA
INITIAL MANAGEMENT
Primary survey
Resuscitation
Secondary
survey
Breathin
g
Circulatio
n
Diasabilit
y
Exposure
INITIAL MANAGEMENT
Primary survey
Resuscitation
Secondary
survey
INITIAL MANAGEMENT
Obtains a rapid history of
Primary survey
Resuscitation
Secondary
survey
Early Neuro-assessment
1. Assess for the conscious level by using Glasgow Coma Scale
2. Cranial nerves examinations if possible
3. Assessment of pupillary size & reaction
4. Search for CSF leaks from nose, mouth & ears
5. Examine scalp for laceration and fractures
6. Assessment of maxillofacial skeleton
7. Monitor neurological symptoms
Vomiting
Altered behaviour (confusion)
Severe & persistent headache
Seizure
Management
Observe for few hours especially when there is history
of LOC at time of injury
Evaluate if patient need admission or not
Investigations:
Imaging (CT scan of brain)
Other baseline investigations (FBC, coagulation prole, GXM)
Treatment/intervention
Radiological investigation
Skull Xray
Cervical Xray
CT scan of brain
CT scan of cervical
MRI brain/cervical
CT scan
The current standard investigation
Should be done in ALL patient with signicant head
injury
Demonstrates mass effect, ventricular size and
conguration, bone injuries, and acute hemorrhage.
Limitations: insensitivity in detecting small and
nonhemorrhagic lesion (eg contusion)
Extracerebral lesion
Extradural hematoma
Subdural hematoma
Fractures of skull base or vault
Intracerebral lesion
Odema
Contusion
Intracerebral hematoma
Basal cistern
Midline
Sulci gyri
Ventricles
Bones
Epidural
haemorrhage
Subdural
haemorrhage
Edema with
compression on
ventricles
Intracerebral
haemorrhage
MRI
More sensitive and detail imaging study
Demonstrate: anatomic & vascular structures,
myelination process & detection small hemorrhages
Disadvantage: time consuming, sensitivity to patient
motion and incompatibility with various medical devices
Skull fracture
Exploration, debridement and elevation of fragment
Compound fracture has high incidence of infection,
neurological decit and late onset epilepsy hence
antibiotic, antiepilectics are indicated
Skull base fracture may associated with CSF leak hence
pneumococcal vaccination is indicatied
Epidural hematoma
Immediate transfer to neurosurgical unit
Immediate evacuation in deteriorating or comatose
patient or those with large bleeds with burr holes or
craniotomy
Close observation with serial imaging
Subdural hematoma
Similar to epidural hematoma
Smaller bleeds can be managed conservatively with ICP
monitoring
Evacuation using burr holes/craniotomy
Cerebral contusion
Rarely requires surgery unless to reduce mass effect