Introduction to the
Central Nervous System

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Lesson 6 Central Nervous System Trauma

After completing this lesson, you should be able to:

Identify pathophysiological factors of head injuries which cause or worsen head injuries.
Identify events that occur as intracranial pressure rises.
Identify signs/symptoms and management techniques for these types of head injuries:

Scalp wounds

Skull injuries

Concussion

Cerebral contusion. Intracranial hematoma.

Identify the steps/procedures for examining/evaluating a patient with head trauma.
Identify the steps/procedures for treating patients with head injury.
Identify the pathophysiological factors relating to spinal cord injury.
Identify spinal cord injuries possibly caused by an accident.
Identify the possible mechanism of injury for a patient with a spinal cord injury.
Identify the events in an accident or evaluation of a patient that would require the patient to be treated as a spinal cord injury patient.
Identify the areas that should be assessed to fully evaluate a trauma patient.
Identify the treatment for a patient with a spinal cord injury.
Identify the signs/symptoms of secondary shock.
Identify the indications for using an extrication device.
Identify common errors in management of a patient with central nervous system trauma.
Identify the steps/procedures for immobilizing a patient with central nervous system trauma.

Section I. HEAD INJURY

5-1. INTRODUCTION

5-2. GENERAL INFORMATION

5-3. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

5-4. INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE (ICP)

5-5. ANOXIC BRAIN INJURY

5-6. SPECIFIC TYPES OF HEAD INJURY

5-7. GENERAL ASSESSMENT OF HEAD TRAUMA

5-8. JUDGING LEVEL OF SEVERITY OF HEAD INJURY

5-9. LEVELS OF HEAD INJURY

5-10. GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF HEAD TRAUMA

Section II. SPINAL CORD INJURY

5-11. GENERAL INFORMATION

5-12. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

5-13. INJURY TO THE SPINAL CORD

5-14. MECHANISM OF INJURY

5-15. MANDATORY TREATMENT FOR SPINAL INJURY

5-16. GENERAL ASSESSMENT

5-17. PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT

5-18. TREATMENT FOR SPINAL CORD INJURY

5-19. COMPLICATIONS OF SPINAL CORD INJURY

Section III. IMMOBILIZATION TECHNIQUES FOR SPINAL CORD INJURY

5-20. INTRODUCTIONv

5-21. CERVICAL COLLAR (C-COLLAR)

5-22. KENDRICK EXTRICATION DEVICE (KED)

5-23. SHORT SPINE BOARD

5-24. LONG SPINE BOARD

5-25. SCOOP STRETCHER

Section IV. MANAGEMENT OF SPINAL CORD INJURY

5-26. COMMON ERRORS IN MANAGEMENT

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About this Course

The central nervous system (CNS) is one of the two principal divisions of the body's nervous system. The nervous system is the body's communication network and control center. Consisting of the brain and the spinal cord, the CNS is the control center for the entire nervous system. All the sensations of the body are relayed to the central nervous system. All nerve impulses that cause muscles to contract and glands to secrete come from the central nervous system.

This course deals with the anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system, physical assessment of the central nervous system, central nervous system diseases and disorders, seizures, and central nervous system trauma. It is a suitable foundation course in the central nervous system for technologists and professionals in the medical arts.

The content of this course is adapted from:

THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
MD0572, Edition 100
Academy of Health Sciences
Fort Sam Houston, TX

Primary content provider: U.S. Army
Free-Ed.Net Web design and pedagogy: David L.Heiserman
Publisher: SweetHaven Publishing Services