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. Which scale is commonly used to assess a patient's level of consciousness after a traumatic brain injury? → Glasgow Coma Scale
3. Which structure acts as the brain’s relay station for sensory signals? → Thalamus
4. What is the primary mechanism by which brief hyperventilation temporarily reduces ICP in acute TBI? → Causes cerebral vasoconstriction by lowering PaCO2
5. 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
6. 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
7. What term describes localized bruising or bleeding within brain tissue following a head injury? → Contusion
8. Which brain region is primarily involved in regulating emotions and memory? → Limbic system
9. Impaired self-awareness (anosognosia) after TBI is most associated with damage to which brain region? → Right prefrontal and parietal cortex
10. Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) after TBI is characterized by which symptom pattern? → Involuntary, uncontrollable episodes of laughing or crying disproportionate to mood
11. Which drug is used to reduce cerebral edema by creating an osmotic gradient to draw water from brain tissue? → Mannitol
12. Which assessment tool evaluates cognitive functioning, including memory and attention, after TBI? → Mini-Mental State Exam
13. Which fluid surrounds the brain and spinal cord to protect them from injury? → Cerebrospinal fluid
14. Why is aspirin generally avoided in the immediate post-TBI period? → It inhibits platelet aggregation and raises bleeding risk
15. Which medication is prescribed for post-TBI headache that is refractory to standard analgesics? → Amitriptyline
16. What minimum systolic blood pressure must be maintained to prevent secondary injury in acute severe TBI, per Brain Trauma Foundation guidelines? → 90 mmHg
17. Depression following TBI is attributed to which combination of factors? → Both neurobiological changes (limbic/prefrontal disruption) and psychosocial stressors
18. 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
19. Child passenger safety seats, when properly installed, reduce TBI risk for young children in motor vehicle crashes by approximately what percentage? → 71-82%
20. Which legislation in the US provides protections for TBI survivors in the workplace regarding reasonable accommodations? → Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
21. What is the recommended approach to temperature management in acute severe TBI? → Aggressive fever prevention; treat hyperthermia promptly
22. What is the main pharmacological goal when managing elevated ICP in a TBI patient? → Reduce ICP while maintaining adequate cerebral perfusion pressure
23. Which brain lobe is responsible for processing sensory information such as touch and temperature? → Parietal lobe
24. Driving after TBI raises which specific legal liability issue for clinicians? → Clinicians may have a duty to warn and report unsafe drivers to the DMV in some states
25. Which cognitive domain is most commonly impaired following mild TBI? → Attention and processing speed
26. The Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) is used in TBI legal and clinical contexts primarily to measure what? → Functional outcome and disability level following TBI for prognosis and legal damages
27. In TBI personal injury litigation, neuropsychological testing is used primarily for which purpose? → Objective documentation of cognitive deficits for disability or damages claims
28. Which standardized tool is used to assess post-traumatic amnesia and track cognitive recovery? → Westmead PTA Scale
29. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can co-occur with TBI; which symptom overlap makes dual diagnosis challenging? → Sleep disturbance, concentration problems, and irritability appear in both conditions
30. Which assessment is used to gauge a patient’s ability to perform daily activities after brain injury? → Functional Independence Measure (FIM)