Emergency Medicine Specialist Head of Accident & Emergency Department Husada General Hospital • Brain fixed volume (the skull) • Type of trauma : Intracranial Haemorrhage, Basillar skull fracture, skull fracture • Trauma Bleeding n swelling ↑ICP brain herniation (commonly uncal herniation) • Goals : – Support oxygenation + Blood pressure (prevent secondary brain injury) – Identify head injury (intervention or observation ) • Cerebral Perfusion Pressure : CPP = MAP – ICP – Ideal CPP > 60 mmHg – Ideal MAP > 80 mmHg – Ideal ICP < 15 mmHg • Symptoms depend on severity of injury – Mild focal headache – Loss of conciousness – Amnesia (retro or antero) – vomiting • Examination – Level of severity – Calculate GCS – Review vital sign, High ICP may cause Cushing reflex ( hypertension, bradycardia and irregular respiration) – Pupillary exam : • A single fixed + dilated pupil sign of ipsilateral uncal herniaton ( in awake patient ocular trauma ) • Bilateral fixed + dilated pupils complete uncal herniation, poor brain perfusion or stimulant use) – Motor exam to assess focal neurologic deficits or posturing : • Decorticate posturing • Decerebrate posturing – Brainstem exam (Resp. pattern, papillary size and eye movement) • Oculocephalic response : “doll’s eyes” indicates intact brainstem function in comatose patient • Oculovestibular response : 30 mL ice cold saline into ear; nystagmus intact brainstem function • Diagnosis – Head CT w/o contrast • Anyone with a change in mental state • Elderly patient or have coagulopathy • Vomiting or persistent headache – Children < 2 y.o head CT if : • Focal neurology abnormality • Altered mental state • Any scalp trauma (laceration/ecchymosis/contusion/abrasion) • Vomiting • Treatment – Aggressive management prevent secondary brain injury – Placed in critical care area – Ensure adequate oxygenation and ventilation – Intubate if GCS ≤ 8 or presence of intracranial injury by CT – Head elevated 30⁰ – Infusion with Normal saline – Aggressive treat hypotension to maintain SBP ≥ 90 mmHg, – Seizure prophylaxis with phenytoin (prevent early post traumatic seizure) – Antiemetics for nausea/vomiting – Analgetic, avoid NSAID – Antibiotics if any open wound – If evidence for herniation : • Hyperventilate to PCO2 of 30 – 35 mmHg • Manitol 0.25 – 1 g/KgBW i.v bolus (osmotic diuretis), contraindicated for renal impairment patient • Emergency burr hole (by neuro surgeon) – Consult neuro surgeon division – Admitted to Intensive care ward or Cito operation Intracranial Haemorhage Epidural Hematome • Associated with skull fracture • Middle meningea artery • Rapid expansion • CT show : biconvex opacity • Usually temporo/ temporoparietal area • Present lucid interval due to expanding hematoma • Surgical emergency Subdural Hematome • Caused by tearing of bridging veins • Commonly in elderly n alcoholics brain atrophy n ↑intracranial space • May be associated with minor or no known trauma • Crescent shaped hematome on CT : – Bright acute – Dark chronic (> 14 days) • Surgical intervention (Decompresion) for acute < 24 h or sub acute < 2 weeks, or associated with AMS or significant midline shift > 5mm Traumatic subarachnoid Haemorrhage • Cause by disruption of subarachnoid vessels • Most common ICH in moderate to severe TBI • Typically, photophobia and/or meningeal signs Basillar Skull Fracture • Most commonly throught the petrous portion of temporal bone • Symptoms / Exam : – Vertigo – Hearing difficulties / hearing loss – CSF otorrhea and/or rhinorrhea – Mastoid ecchymosis (battle’s sign) – Periorbital ecchymosis (raccoon eyes – Hemotympanum – 7th nerve palsy • Treatment : – Analgetics, antiemetic – Antibiotics – Avoid to insert NGT or airway device (NPA) • Complication : – Meningitis – meningoencephalitis Skull fracture • Type of fracture – Linier fracture • Rarely clinically significant in and of itself • Concern is for underlying brain injury, vascular bleeding, thrombosis, or suture diastasis • May present with pain and hematoma • Diagnosis by palpation, plain radiograph and CT scan (maybe missed on axial CT scan) • Linear fractures rarely require repair and may be discharged if otherwise asymptomatic – Comminuted Fracture • Fracture in many fragments • Open skull fractures (overlying skin broken) require antibiotics • Debridemant in operation room – Depressed Fracture • A comminuted fracture with inward displacement • If depression is greater than the thickness of adjacent inner table, may require surgical elevation • Depressed fractures may present with skull crepitus • Diagnosis by palpation, plain radiograph and CT scan • Depressed skull fractures may require surgical elevation if depression greater than adjacent inner skull table thickness Special Consideraton Diffuse axonal injury (shear injury) • Definition – Diffuse axonal injury causing severe depressed level of consciousness out of proportion to radiographic findings • Etiology – White and grey matter have different densities and therefore tears one from another with sudden acceleration and deceleration or rotation motor vehicle accident (MVA), shaken baby syndrome • Symptoms and signs – Spectrum of illness related to degree of injury and mechanism ranging from brief loss of consciousness to persistent vegetative state – Complex ongoing biochemical cascade may cause delayed injury and worsening symptoms and signs • Diagnosis – Clinical and unfortunately, often a histologic diagnosis – MRI is superior to CT, but both modalities may be nondiagnostic