NR574-FINAL EXAM CONTENT WEEK 5: TRAUMATIC HEAD INJURIES
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT Answers
1. Types of skull fractures (list 4) linear, basilar, depressed,
and penetrating.
2. Linear skull fracture A single fracture that tra-
verses the skull
3. basilar skull fracture A fracture that involves at
least one of the bones of
the base of the skull
4. depressed skull fracture A comminuted fracture
where broken bones are
displaced inward (usually
associated with blunt force
trauma)
5. Penetrating skull fracture An "open" fracture result-
ing in a breach of the dura.
, Depending upon the ob-
ject and mechanism of in-
jury, foreign bodies may
extend to varying depths
within the brain.
6. subjective findings of a skull fx Subjective complaints in
clients with skull fractures
may include:
-pain and/or bleed-
ing/hematoma at the site
of injury, as well as
drowsiness, blurred vi-
sion, diplopia, dizziness,
nausea, vomiting, and
headache.
7. physical exam findings of skull fx altered level of conscious-
ness
large scalp laceration
penetrating object pro-
jecting from the skull
neurologic deficits (apha-
sia, motor weakness,
paralysis, etc.)
palpable skull bone
step-ott
, 8. TRUE OR FALSE: Scalp wounds should be probed. Clinical Tip: Scalp wounds
should NEVER be probed
due to the underlying risk
of penetrating the brain.
9. specific clinical findings of a basilar skull fracture -Hemotympanum is the
presence of blood behind
the tympanic membrane.
-Battle's sign is a term
used to describe mastoid
ecchymosis.
-Raccoon eyes is a term
used to describe perior-
bital ecchymosis.
-Otorrhea or rhinorrhea is
due to a CSF leak from the
nose or ear.
10. Glascow Coma Scale (GCS) Neurologic assessment of
a patient's best verbal re-
sponse, eye opening, and
motor function.
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT Answers
1. Types of skull fractures (list 4) linear, basilar, depressed,
and penetrating.
2. Linear skull fracture A single fracture that tra-
verses the skull
3. basilar skull fracture A fracture that involves at
least one of the bones of
the base of the skull
4. depressed skull fracture A comminuted fracture
where broken bones are
displaced inward (usually
associated with blunt force
trauma)
5. Penetrating skull fracture An "open" fracture result-
ing in a breach of the dura.
, Depending upon the ob-
ject and mechanism of in-
jury, foreign bodies may
extend to varying depths
within the brain.
6. subjective findings of a skull fx Subjective complaints in
clients with skull fractures
may include:
-pain and/or bleed-
ing/hematoma at the site
of injury, as well as
drowsiness, blurred vi-
sion, diplopia, dizziness,
nausea, vomiting, and
headache.
7. physical exam findings of skull fx altered level of conscious-
ness
large scalp laceration
penetrating object pro-
jecting from the skull
neurologic deficits (apha-
sia, motor weakness,
paralysis, etc.)
palpable skull bone
step-ott
, 8. TRUE OR FALSE: Scalp wounds should be probed. Clinical Tip: Scalp wounds
should NEVER be probed
due to the underlying risk
of penetrating the brain.
9. specific clinical findings of a basilar skull fracture -Hemotympanum is the
presence of blood behind
the tympanic membrane.
-Battle's sign is a term
used to describe mastoid
ecchymosis.
-Raccoon eyes is a term
used to describe perior-
bital ecchymosis.
-Otorrhea or rhinorrhea is
due to a CSF leak from the
nose or ear.
10. Glascow Coma Scale (GCS) Neurologic assessment of
a patient's best verbal re-
sponse, eye opening, and
motor function.
