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Head and Neck Trauma Flashcards

6 cards from real TNCC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 Head and Neck Trauma flashcards as text

  1. A patient with a traumatic brain injury presents with a GCS of 6, unequal pupils (left fixed and dilated), and decorticate posturing. These findings suggest:

    Answer: Left-sided uncal herniation compressing cranial nerve III

    A fixed, dilated pupil on one side with contralateral motor findings and declining GCS indicates uncal herniation, where the medial temporal lobe herniates through the tentorial notch and compresses the ipsilateral CN III.

  2. The Monroe-Kellie doctrine states that the total volume of the intracranial compartment is fixed. The three components are:

    Answer: Brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, and blood

    The Monroe-Kellie doctrine states that the rigid skull contains brain tissue (80%), cerebrospinal fluid (10%), and blood (10%), and an increase in one must be compensated by a decrease in another.

  3. Which type of intracranial hemorrhage is MOST commonly associated with a lucid interval followed by rapid deterioration?

    Answer: Epidural hematoma

    Epidural hematoma, typically from middle meningeal artery rupture, classically presents with a brief loss of consciousness, a lucid interval, followed by rapid neurological deterioration.

  4. When managing elevated intracranial pressure, the nurse should position the trauma patient with the head of bed elevated to what degree?

    Answer: 15-30 degrees

    Head of bed elevation to 30 degrees promotes venous drainage from the brain via gravity, helping to reduce intracranial pressure while maintaining adequate cerebral perfusion.

  5. A patient with penetrating neck trauma in Zone II (angle of mandible to cricoid cartilage) has an expanding hematoma with stridor. The priority is:

    Answer: Emergent surgical exploration

    An expanding hematoma with stridor in Zone II indicates vascular injury with impending airway compromise, requiring emergent surgical exploration.

  6. Cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) is calculated by which formula?

    Answer: CPP = MAP - ICP

    Cerebral perfusion pressure equals mean arterial pressure minus intracranial pressure. The target CPP in TBI is typically 60-70 mmHg.