TBI Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield TBI facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Mandatory reporting requirements relevant to TBI most commonly apply to which situation in the US? → Suspected child abuse causing TBI — clinicians are mandatory reporters
2. The amygdala is chiefly involved in which function? → Processing of emotion, especially fear
3. Which combination makes up Cushing's triad, a sign of severely raised ICP? → Hypertension, bradycardia, irregular respirations
4. Which glial cells are most involved in supporting the blood-brain barrier and buffering extracellular potassium? → Astrocytes
5. Which scale is commonly used to assess a patient's level of consciousness after a traumatic brain injury? → Glasgow Coma Scale
6. Which structure acts as the brain’s relay station for sensory signals? → Thalamus
7. What is the primary mechanism by which brief hyperventilation temporarily reduces ICP in acute TBI? → Causes cerebral vasoconstriction by lowering PaCO2
8. Rural populations in the US have higher TBI mortality rates than urban populations primarily because of which factor? → Longer emergency response times and greater distance to trauma centers
9. Which type of helmet is specifically designed to absorb energy from rotational forces — a key mechanism in concussion? → MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) helmets
10. The Monro-Kellie doctrine states that the cranial vault contains which fixed-volume components? → Brain, blood and CSF
11. What term describes localized bruising or bleeding within brain tissue following a head injury? → Contusion
12. Which brain region is primarily involved in regulating emotions and memory? → Limbic system
13. Impaired self-awareness (anosognosia) after TBI is most associated with damage to which brain region? → Right prefrontal and parietal cortex
14. Which substrate is the brain's primary energy source under normal conditions? → Glucose
15. Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) after TBI is characterized by which symptom pattern? → Involuntary, uncontrollable episodes of laughing or crying disproportionate to mood
16. Which drug is used to reduce cerebral edema by creating an osmotic gradient to draw water from brain tissue? → Mannitol
17. Damage to the prefrontal cortex most characteristically produces which problem? → Impaired executive function and personality change
18. Which assessment tool evaluates cognitive functioning, including memory and attention, after TBI? → Mini-Mental State Exam
19. Which fluid surrounds the brain and spinal cord to protect them from injury? → Cerebrospinal fluid
20. Why is aspirin generally avoided in the immediate post-TBI period? → It inhibits platelet aggregation and raises bleeding risk
21. Which medication is prescribed for post-TBI headache that is refractory to standard analgesics? → Amitriptyline
22. How does an elevated PaCO2 (hypercapnia) affect the cerebral vessels? → Vasodilation increasing cerebral blood volume and ICP
23. Depression following TBI is attributed to which combination of factors? → Both neurobiological changes (limbic/prefrontal disruption) and psychosocial stressors
24. Which occupational group has a significantly elevated TBI risk due to their work environment, in addition to military personnel? → Construction workers and professional contact sport athletes
25. Cerebral autoregulation normally keeps cerebral blood flow constant across approximately which MAP range? → 50–150 mmHg
26. Child passenger safety seats, when properly installed, reduce TBI risk for young children in motor vehicle crashes by approximately what percentage? → 71-82%
27. What is neuroplasticity? → The brain's ability to reorganize and form new connections
28. Which legislation in the US provides protections for TBI survivors in the workplace regarding reasonable accommodations? → Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
29. What injury mechanism primarily causes diffuse axonal injury? → Rotational acceleration-deceleration forces that shear axons
30. What is the main pharmacological goal when managing elevated ICP in a TBI patient? → Reduce ICP while maintaining adequate cerebral perfusion pressure