CAISS - HEAD ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH 100%
VERIFIED ANSWERS
What does AIS consider to be part of the head? ANSWER: Scalp, skull, brain,
intracranial vessels, and cranial nerves.
What makes up the Meninges? - ANSWER Dura Mater (epidural/subdural),
Arachnoid (CSF), and Pia Matter (vascular membrane)
What are the different regions of the brain? - ANSWER Brain stem, cerebellum,
cerebrum.
What constitutes a focal brain injury? - ANSWER Space-occupying lesion in which
the brain shifts or herniates
What is Diffuse Brain Injury? - ANSWER: Global/widespread damage impacting
consciousness
What does "Compound" signify in terms of the skull? - ANSWER Open fracture.
When should the coding of brain damage occur? - ANSWER At 24 hours, or at the
time of the initial verified diagnosis if it is later.
When can LOCs be coded? - ANSWER: When there is convincing evidence of
head trauma and a physician makes the diagnosis.
How do you code a "Closed Head Injury" diagnosis given by a provider? -
ANSWER 100099.9, NFS
The patient was diagnosed with a compound temporal fracture and a laceration of
the temporal artery. Can you code both injuries? - The answer is yes.
, When does a laceration of a cranial nerve occur? - ANSWER Paralysis occurs
when there is total loss of nerve function.
When is a cranial nerve coded as a contusion? - ANSWER When there is a
partial/total loss of function. Paresis or Palsy
What determines the Injury Severity Score of brain lesions? - ANSWER: Size,
Location, Multiplicity
What does the term "Closed Cisterns" imply? - ANSWER Brain Swelling
At what age is the severity of brain damage adjusted? - ANSWER: 10 and younger.
How do you code a single fracture that includes both the base and the vault? -
ANSWER Code is the most severe. If the code is equivalent to the point of origin.
How should every skull fracture be coded? - ANSWER Unless selected as the base,
code goes to Vault.
What bones are involved in a skull base fracture? - ANSWER Ethmoid, Sphenoid,
Orbital Roof, Petrous, and Mastoid of Temporal
What evidence of head injuries can be used to support a diagnosis of basilar skull
fracture? - Answer: Battle Signs, CSF (Otorrhea/Rhinorrhea), or Raccoon Eyes
Diagnosis of shearing of white matter with acute and protracted unconsciousness; -
ANSWER Diffuse Axonal Injury
VERIFIED ANSWERS
What does AIS consider to be part of the head? ANSWER: Scalp, skull, brain,
intracranial vessels, and cranial nerves.
What makes up the Meninges? - ANSWER Dura Mater (epidural/subdural),
Arachnoid (CSF), and Pia Matter (vascular membrane)
What are the different regions of the brain? - ANSWER Brain stem, cerebellum,
cerebrum.
What constitutes a focal brain injury? - ANSWER Space-occupying lesion in which
the brain shifts or herniates
What is Diffuse Brain Injury? - ANSWER: Global/widespread damage impacting
consciousness
What does "Compound" signify in terms of the skull? - ANSWER Open fracture.
When should the coding of brain damage occur? - ANSWER At 24 hours, or at the
time of the initial verified diagnosis if it is later.
When can LOCs be coded? - ANSWER: When there is convincing evidence of
head trauma and a physician makes the diagnosis.
How do you code a "Closed Head Injury" diagnosis given by a provider? -
ANSWER 100099.9, NFS
The patient was diagnosed with a compound temporal fracture and a laceration of
the temporal artery. Can you code both injuries? - The answer is yes.
, When does a laceration of a cranial nerve occur? - ANSWER Paralysis occurs
when there is total loss of nerve function.
When is a cranial nerve coded as a contusion? - ANSWER When there is a
partial/total loss of function. Paresis or Palsy
What determines the Injury Severity Score of brain lesions? - ANSWER: Size,
Location, Multiplicity
What does the term "Closed Cisterns" imply? - ANSWER Brain Swelling
At what age is the severity of brain damage adjusted? - ANSWER: 10 and younger.
How do you code a single fracture that includes both the base and the vault? -
ANSWER Code is the most severe. If the code is equivalent to the point of origin.
How should every skull fracture be coded? - ANSWER Unless selected as the base,
code goes to Vault.
What bones are involved in a skull base fracture? - ANSWER Ethmoid, Sphenoid,
Orbital Roof, Petrous, and Mastoid of Temporal
What evidence of head injuries can be used to support a diagnosis of basilar skull
fracture? - Answer: Battle Signs, CSF (Otorrhea/Rhinorrhea), or Raccoon Eyes
Diagnosis of shearing of white matter with acute and protracted unconsciousness; -
ANSWER Diffuse Axonal Injury
