CAISS Head and Neck Injuries 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the AIS, a cerebral contusion with loss of consciousness lasting 31–60 minutes is coded at which severity level?
- AIS 2
- AIS 3 (Correct answer)
- AIS 4
- AIS 5
Correct answer: AIS 3
A cerebral contusion with LOC of 31–60 minutes corresponds to AIS 3 (Serious).
Question 2: Which cervical spine injury descriptor is used in AIS when there is fracture of C1 (atlas) without evidence of spinal cord involvement?
- Cervical cord injury NFS
- Atlas fracture without cord injury (Correct answer)
- Cervical dislocation AIS 4
- Atlanto-axial subluxation AIS 5
Correct answer: Atlas fracture without cord injury
A C1 fracture without cord involvement is coded as 'Atlas fracture without cord injury' to distinguish it from cord-level injuries.
Question 3: When coding a penetrating skull injury with retained foreign body but no documented brain laceration, which AIS code category applies?
- Skull fracture only
- Penetrating skull injury without brain injury (Correct answer)
- Intracranial injury NFS
- AIS 5 critical brain injury
Correct answer: Penetrating skull injury without brain injury
A penetrating skull injury with retained foreign body but no confirmed brain laceration is coded as penetrating skull injury without brain injury.
Question 4: A patient has bilateral frontal lobe contusions on CT with GCS of 9. What AIS severity is most appropriate?
- AIS 2
- AIS 3
- AIS 4 (Correct answer)
- AIS 5
Correct answer: AIS 4
Bilateral frontal lobe contusions with moderate neurological impairment (GCS 9) typically code to AIS 4 (Severe).
Question 5: Under AIS rules, which of the following neck soft-tissue injuries would receive AIS 1 (Minor)?
- Carotid artery laceration
- Laryngeal fracture
- Cervical muscle strain without fracture (Correct answer)
- Tracheal transection
Correct answer: Cervical muscle strain without fracture
Cervical muscle strain without fracture or vascular injury is coded AIS 1 because it poses minimal threat to life.
Question 6: What is the AIS coding principle when both a skull fracture and an intracranial hematoma are present in the same patient?
- Only the skull fracture is coded
- Only the hematoma is coded
- Both injuries are coded separately (Correct answer)
- A single combined code is assigned
Correct answer: Both injuries are coded separately
AIS codes both the skull fracture and the intracranial hematoma separately, as each represents a distinct injury.
Question 7: Which AIS body region contains injuries to the external ear and scalp?
- Body Region 1 – Head (Correct answer)
- Body Region 2 – Face
- Body Region 3 – Neck
- Body Region 9 – External
Correct answer: Body Region 1 – Head
The scalp and external ear are classified within AIS Body Region 1 (Head).
CAISS Head and Neck Injuries 2
In the AIS, a cerebral contusion with loss of consciousness lasting 31–60 minutes is coded at which severity level?