1. Head injury
Dr Suhas U
Incidence
Anatomy and
physiology
Classification
Management
2. Incidence
⢠Leading cause of morbidity , mortality ,
disability and socioeconomic losses
⢠1.5 â 2 million injured per year
⢠1million succumb to death every year
⢠Causes
ďRTA- 60%
ďFalls â 20-25%
ďViolence 10%
⢠Alcohol / drug â 15-20%
14. ⢠Total score â 15
⢠Mild head injury â 13-15
⢠Moderate â 9-12
⢠Coma / severe head injury - <8
⢠In a hemiplegia patient while assessing GCS ,
best motor response to be used for scoring
15. Morphology
Skull fractures - Never to be underestimated
⢠Calvaria / base
⢠Linear / stellate
⢠Open / closed
16. Intracranial injuries- Diffuse
Concussion
⢠Transient nonfocal
neurological
disturbance
⢠Mainly LOC
⢠Ischemia/ hypoxia
⢠CT being normal
DAI
⢠High velocity
decelaration injuries
⢠Multiple punctate
hemorrhages at GW
matter junction
⢠Poor outcome
18. SDH
⢠30% of severe brain
injuries
⢠M:F::3-6:1
⢠Older age
⢠Sheering of bridging
veins
⢠CT â concavoconvex
19. Contusions / ICH
⢠20-30%
⢠Frontal and temporal lobes
⢠Mutiple contusions Coalese to form IC
haematoma / mass effect â 20%
⢠Repeat CT after 24hours
20. Management â minor (13-15)
⢠80% head injury patients
⢠History of disorientation , amnesia , transient
LOC in a patient who is conscious and talking
⢠Most patients â uneventful recovery
⢠3% - deteriorate
⢠Primary survey â Pupil, GCS , paresis
⢠Investigations â CT â indications
24. Management - Severe
⢠Unable to follow even after cardiopulmonary
resusitation
⢠Significant morbidity and mortality
⢠Initial management focuses at resuscitation
25. Practical steps
Maintainence of airway
â Intubation / tracheostomy
Breathing (ventilation)
Circulation
ďMaintainence of systemic BP
ďGood intravenous line
ďCVP line
ďCrystalloid infusion â RL/ NS
ďBlood transfusion
26. Foleyâs catheterisation and NG intubation
Neurological assesment
ďGCS score
ďPupil size and reaction
ďExternal injuries
Investigations
ďRoutine blood
ďXray chest / C spine /pelvis
ďFAST
ďABG
CT head
27. Resuscitation
A and B
⢠Early ET intubation
⢠100% oxygen until ABG
report
⢠Then FiO2 altered
⢠SpO2 of 98% desirable
⢠Cautious
hyperventilation- PaCO2
at 30-35mmHg
C
⢠Hypotension â
⢠Other than brain injury
⢠Ideal fluid is RL/N.S
⢠3% saline
⢠Causes
⢠Avoid fluid overload
28. Focused neuro examination
⢠GCS score and pupillary response
⢠Confounding issues
⢠Alocohol/ drugs/ postictal status
⢠Should be assessed before sedating /
paralysing patient
Serial neuro examination
⢠GCS, lateralisation and pupillary reaction
29. Management
Analgesia and sedation
Fentanyl
⢠1-3 mcg /kg /hr infusion
Midazolam
⢠Loading 0.05 â 0.1 mg/kg/dose
⢠Continuous 2mcg /kg/min titrated to desired
effect with range of 0.4-6mcg/kg/min
30. Raised ICP
1) Position â head 15-30degrees elevated and in
neutral position â venous drainage
2) Hyperventilation
ďPromotes cerebral vasoconstriction
ďDecreased CBF
ďOnset within 30seconds and peaks 8min
ďICP lowered by 25% in most
ďMaintain 30-35mmHg PaCO2
ď<25mmHg â profound VC and ischemia
ďInitial 12-18hrs
31. 3) Sedation â for agitated or persisting seizures
ď Diazepam/ midazolam /opiates and propofol
4) Osmotic agents
⢠Mannitol
ď Dose of 0.25- 1g/kg
ď Reduces cerebral edema by osmosis
ď Action within minutes , peak 60min, lasts 6-8hrs
ď Neuroprotective
ď Promotes CBF by reducing blood viscosity and microcirculatory resistance
ď Adverse effects â dilutional hyponatremia, ARF, reverse osmotic effect at
areas of damaged blood brain barrier
⢠Barbiturates /propofol
ď Decreases Cerebral metabolism and CBF
ď Vasoconstriction
5)Hypothermia
32. Post Traumatic Seizures
⢠9% have early post traumatic seizures(blunt)
⢠42% (penetrating)
⢠Seizures predisposes to secondary brain insult
ďHypoxia
ďHypercarbia
ďIncreased excitatory neurotransmitter
ďIncreased ICP
33. Post traumatic
seizures
Immediate
At time of injury
Instant depolarisation of cortex to injury
Generally doesnât recur
Early
After impact but <24hrs
manifestation of intracranial
injury
late
>1week
Scarring and
mechanical irritation
of brain
34. PTS management
First line â Fosphenytoin
Loading dose â 15-20mg/kg
Maintainence dose â 4-6mg/kg/24hr divided in
2doses
Second line â Phenobarbitol
Loading dose - 15-20mg/kg
Maintainence â 3-5mg/kg/24hrs in 2 doses
35. Role of Surgery
⢠Head injury doesnât mean haematoma nor surgery
doesnât mean cure
⢠Aimed to reduce ICP and not complete evacuation
⢠At surgery , adequate decrease in ICP judged by a lax
and pulsatile brain
⢠Indications of surgery / aims
ďRemovable of a large haematoma producing mass effect
ďOperate on open compound injury to prevent CSF leak and
meningitis
36. Indications of surgery in acute head
injury
⢠Large intracranial haematoma producing mass
effect and raised ICP
ďPatient is not improving/ deteriorating
⢠Compound head inury
ďScalp laceration with CSF leak
ďSurgery for foreign body
ďProfuse CSF rhinorrhoea/ otorrhoea for >3weeks
37. Surgery in chronic head injury
⢠Chronic SDH
⢠Subdural effusion
⢠Post traumatic hydrocephalus
⢠CSF fistulae
⢠Osteomylitis / brain abscess
38. Conservative management of IC
haematoma
⢠Patient with good GCS(mostly children and
oldage )
ďShowing progressive improvement
ďStatic with normal coma score
⢠Multiple small contusion/ haematoma
ďNone producing mass effect
⢠Patient with haematoma in brain death /
impending brain death
39. Indication for reoperation
⢠For same haematoma
ďRecollection
ďInadequate evacuation and patient not showing
improvement
ďICP remaining high postop
⢠Following removal of one haematoma
ďNew haematoma â large
ďSmall haematoma increased in size
ďPostop abscess
40. Surgery for compound head injury
1) open â blunt / penetrating
< 24hrs â removal of bone / foreign bodies
>24hrs â onset of meningitis is high
⢠So antibiotics to target and then observed
2) Closed â CSF leak >3 weeks
41. Xray skull
⢠Linear / depressed fracture
⢠Midline position of pineal gland(if calcified)
⢠Air fluid levels in sinus
⢠Pneumocephalus
⢠Facial fractures
⢠Foreign bodies
42. Conclusion
1. Aim of treating a head inury patient is to
treat the primary brain damage and prevent
secondary brain damage
2. Surgery in head injury is required in small
percentage of patients
3. Aim of surgery is to remove ICH to reduce ICP
and to operate on open compound injury to
prevent CSF leak and meningitis