Central Nervous System Trauma

Trauma to the brain and spinal cord is a rare cause of death and disability.

A blow to the head can cause a closed or open injury and may result in severe brain damage even if there are no external signs of head injury.

Contusions are always fatal.

Traumatic parenchymal injuries can occur at the site of impact or on the opposite side of the brain.

Old traumatic lesions are always elevated and pink.

Traumatic vascular injury can lead to hemorrhage in the epidural space.

CNS trauma only affects the brain stem.

A contrecoup injury occurs at the site of impact.

Contusions are only found in the frontal lobe of the brain.

Traumatic brain injury can cause disruption of vascular channels and hemorrhage.

Epidural hematomas are typically caused by tears in the bridging veins that extend from the cerebral hemispheres to the dural sinuses.

Subdural hematomas typically become manifest more than 48 hours after injury.

Rapid movement of the brain during trauma can cause epidural hematomas.

Epidural hematomas are more common over the lateral aspects of the cerebral hemispheres.

Subdural hematomas are caused by tears in dural vessels.

Epidural hematomas are a neurosurgical emergency that requires prompt drainage and repair.

Patients with epidural hematomas are usually immediately symptomatic.

Subdural hematomas are often bilateral.

In infants, traumatic displacement of the skull can tear a vessel, even in the absence of a skull fracture.

Acute subdural hematomas extend into the depths of sulci.