The nurse is caring for a client with a diffuse axonal injury. Which statement about the client's condition does the nurse know to be true?

Question

A) Falls are a common cause of this type of injury.
B) Radiographic findings do not demonstrate evidence of this injury.
C) The immediate result of this injury is diffuse intracranial hemorrhage and loss of consciousness.
D) It is common for spontaneous recovery to occur within 1-2 months of the initial insult.

Answer 1

B) Radiographic findings do not demonstrate evidence of this injury.

Explanation: A) Motor vehicle accidents, not falls, are a common cause of this type of injury.
B) In clients who have suffered a diffuse axonal injury, radiographic findings appear to be normal.
C) The immediate result of a diffuse axonal injury is intracranial hemorrhage and increased intracranial pressure, which then leads to loss of consciousness. Spontaneous recovery is not common with this type of injury, and clients often remain in a vegetative state until death.
D) Spontaneous recovery is not common with this type of injury, and clients often remain in a vegetative state until death.