what is cortical disruption
Traumatic Brain Injury
- Trauma to brain and spinal cord is a significant cause of death and disability
- Very common nowadays, particularly as a consequence of RTAs
- Site of injury is crucially important (may be clinically silent [frontal lobe], severely disabling [spinal cord] or fatal [brain stem])
Types
Skull fracture
- Occurs in approximately 80% of fatal cases of head injuries
Types of Skull Fracture:
a) Linear (most common fracture – 69% patients)
b) Compound (break in skin/splintering of bone, increased risk of infection and meningitis due to laceration of scalp and tearing of dura)
c) Depressed (11% severe head injuries, comminuted fractures with broken bones displaced inwards, increased incidence of epilepsy)
Parenchymal damage
1. Concussion:
- Reversible, altered consciousness from head injury in absence of contusion
- Characteristic dysfunction includes LOC, temporary respiratory arrest and loss of reflexes
- Full recovery usually ensues (although amnesia for event often persists)
2. Contusion and Laceration:
- Injury occurs from collision of the brain with the skull
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