A teenager has been in a car accident and experienced acceleration–deceleration head injury. Initially, the client was stable but then started to develop neurological signs/symptoms

Question

The nurse caring for this client should be assessing for which type of possible complication?
A) Brain contusions and hematomas
B) TIAs and cerebrovascular infarction
C) Momentary unconsciousness
D) Status epilepticus

Answer 1

Ans: A
Feedback:
Contusions (focal brain injury) cause permanent damage to brain tissue. The bruised, necrotic tissue is phagocytized by macrophages, and scar tissue formed by astrocyte proliferation persists as a crater. The direct contusion of the brain at the site of external force is referred to as a acceleration injury, whereas the opposite side of the brain receives the deceleration injury from rebound against the inner skull surfaces. As the brain strikes the rough surface of the cranial vault, brain tissue, blood vessels, nerve tracts, and other structures are bruised and torn, resulting in contusions and hematomas. TIAs and cerebral vascular infarction (stroke) are often caused by atherosclerotic brain vessel occlusions that cause ischemic injuries. In mild concussion head injury, there may be momentary loss of consciousness without demonstrable neurologic symptoms or residual damage, except for possible residual amnesia. Status epilepticus is not related to this situation.