CAISS Head and Neck Injuries 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A motorcyclist sustains a subdural hematoma with midline shift >5 mm on CT. What is the minimum expected AIS severity?
- AIS 3
- AIS 4 (Correct answer)
- AIS 5
- AIS 6
Correct answer: AIS 4
An acute subdural hematoma with significant midline shift is coded AIS 4 (Severe) or higher depending on clinical status.
Question 2: In the AIS dictionary, 'diffuse axonal injury' (DAI) with coma lasting more than 6 hours is coded at which level?
- AIS 3
- AIS 4
- AIS 5 (Correct answer)
- AIS 6
Correct answer: AIS 5
DAI with coma exceeding 6 hours represents a life-threatening brain injury coded at AIS 5 (Critical).
Question 3: Which of the following is an AIS 6 (Maximum/Untreatable) head injury?
- Cerebral contusion
- Epidural hematoma requiring surgery
- Complete brainstem destruction (Correct answer)
- Basilar skull fracture
Correct answer: Complete brainstem destruction
Complete brainstem destruction is virtually unsurvivable and is coded AIS 6.
Question 4: When a patient has a C3 fracture with complete motor and sensory loss below that level, what AIS code applies?
- AIS 2
- AIS 3
- AIS 4
- AIS 5 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: AIS 5
A high cervical cord injury (C3) with complete neurological deficit is coded AIS 5 (Critical) due to the threat to respiratory function.
Question 5: An intracerebral hemorrhage is found in the temporal lobe measuring 15 mL with GCS 14. Which AIS severity is most appropriate?
- AIS 2
- AIS 3 (Correct answer)
- AIS 4
- AIS 5
Correct answer: AIS 3
A small temporal intracerebral hemorrhage with near-normal GCS is coded AIS 3 (Serious).
Question 6: In AIS, where is a fracture of the hyoid bone classified?
- Head – face
- Neck region (Correct answer)
- Thorax
- Spine
Correct answer: Neck region
The hyoid bone is an anatomical structure of the neck and its fracture is coded under the AIS Neck body region.
Question 7: A patient presents with post-traumatic amnesia lasting 3 days without structural CT finding. How does AIS classify this?
- AIS 1 – Minor
- AIS 2 – Moderate (Correct answer)
- AIS 3 – Serious
- AIS 4 – Severe
Correct answer: AIS 2 – Moderate
Post-traumatic amnesia of several days without structural injury is coded AIS 2 because it reflects a moderate concussion.
CAISS Head and Neck Injuries 3
A motorcyclist sustains a subdural hematoma with midline shift >5 mm on CT.
What is the minimum expected AIS severity?