exam3

adult 2

Primary Spinal Cord Injury

Initial disruption of axons due to stretch, laceration, or transection, often caused by cord compression or penetrating trauma.

Secondary Spinal Cord Injury

Permanent damage within 24 hours due to edema secondary to inflammatory response, with prognosis best assessed 72 hours post-injury.

Spinal Shock

Temporary condition characterized by decreased reflexes, flaccid paralysis, and hypotension, often masking post-injury neurologic function.

Neurogenic Shock

Results from loss of sympathetic innervation, leading to hypotension and bradycardia, commonly seen in T6 or higher injuries.

Tetraplegia

Paralysis affecting all four limbs, often associated with cervical injuries.

Paraplegia

Paralysis affecting the lower extremities, typically due to thoracic or lumbar injuries.

Neurogenic Bladder

Dysfunction due to abnormal bladder innervation, leading to issues like urinary retention or hyperactive reflex contractions.

Neurogenic Pulmonary Edema

Risk in spinal cord injuries, causing respiratory insufficiency due to paralysis of respiratory muscles.

Visceral Pain

Dull, tender pain in thorax, abdomen, or pelvis, common in spinal cord injuries.

Autonomic Dysreflexia

Potentially life-threatening condition characterized by severe hypertension and bradycardia, often triggered by a distended bladder or rectum.

Neurologic Level of Injury

The lowest segment of the spinal cord with normal sensory and motor function on both sides of the body, which can be cervical, thoracic, lumbar, or sacral.

Tetraplegia

Paralysis of all 4 extremities resulting from cervical cord involvement.

Paraplegia

Paralysis and loss of sensation in the legs due to thoracic, lumbar, or sacral spinal cord damage.

Brain Death

Irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem.

Uniform Determination of Death Act

Legislation that defines brain death and the criteria for determining it.

Doll's Eye Reflex

Oculocephalic reflex used in brain death determination.

Brain Abscess

Pus within the brain tissue, often caused by bacterial infections.

Meningitis

Acute inflammation of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain tissue itself, often caused by viral infections.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Any trauma to the skull, scalp, or brain, commonly caused by falls, MVAs, or other injuries.

Halo or Ring Sign

A test to detect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in leaking fluid by observing the formation of a yellowish ring around blood on a white gauze pad.

Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)

Widespread axonal damage primarily in subcortical white matter, basal ganglia, thalamus, and brainstem, leading to decreased level of consciousness (LOC) and increased intracranial pressure (ICP).

Subdural Hematoma

Bleeding between the dura mater and arachnoid layer of meninges, which can be of venous or arterial origin and may require surgical evacuation.

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

A scale used to assess the level of consciousness, with a score of 8 or less indicating a coma state.

Intracranial Pressure (ICP)

The pressure inside the skull, regulated by the Monro-Kellie doctrine, with normal values between 5-15 mmHg and elevated ICP greater than 20 mmHg.

Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF)

The amount of blood passing through brain tissue in a minute, regulated by auto-regulation mechanisms to maintain consistent flow.

Herniation

Life-threatening condition where increased ICP causes displacement of brain tissues, leading to neurological emergencies like Cushing's triad.

Decorticate Posturing

A flexor posturing indicating serious brain damage, while decerebrate posturing (extensor) signifies more severe injury.

Cushing's Triad

Neurological emergency signs including widened pulse pressure, bradycardia, and irregular respirations, indicating increased ICP.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

A progressive neurologic disorder characterized by motor neuron degeneration, leading to muscle weakness and eventual respiratory failure.

Guillain Barre Syndrome

A disorder characterized by ascending paralysis, muscle weakness, and loss of myelin due to an immune reaction affecting peripheral nerves.

Dysarthria

Condition of slurred speech often observed in patients with neurological disorders like Guillain Barre Syndrome.

Myasthenia Gravis

An autoimmune disease causing fluctuating weakness in skeletal muscles due to antibodies attacking acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction.

Ascending paralysis

A symptom of Guillain Barre Syndrome where weakness starts from the lower extremities and progresses upwards.

Diabetes Insipidus

A condition resulting from ADH deficiency or renal insensitivity to ADH, leading to excessive thirst and urination.

Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP)

The most common form of Guillain Barre Syndrome affecting the peripheral nervous system and cranial nerves.

Plasmapheresis

A treatment method involving the removal, treatment, and return of blood plasma to manage conditions like Guillain Barre Syndrome.

Tensilon test

A diagnostic test for Myasthenia Gravis where the patient is given edrophonium chloride to observe muscle response.

Stereotactic surgery

A precise surgical technique used in brain tumor treatment to target specific areas within the brain.

Vasospasms

Constriction of blood vessels that can occur after a hemorrhagic stroke, managed with medications like Nimodipine.

Diabetes Insipidus

A man-made form of vasopressin (DDAVP, Pitressin) used in neurogenic Diabetes Insipidus.

Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH)

Occurs when ADH is released despite normal or low plasma osmolarity.

SIADH Characteristics

Characterized by fluid retention, dilutional hyponatremia, and hypochloremia.

SIADH Causes

Can be caused by malignant tumors, CNS disorders, head injury, CVA, drug therapy, and other conditions.

SIADH Nursing Management

Includes fluid restriction, diuretics, and declomycin.

Burns Classification

Burns categorized by degrees (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th) and depth of skin involvement.

Electrical Burns

Result from direct damage to nerves and vessels, causing tissue anoxia and death.

Burn Location Classification

Severity determined by the location of the burn wound on the body.

Burn Prehospital Care

Immediate care for burns includes removing the patient from the source of injury.

Burn Emergent Phase

Initial phase post-burn focusing on fluid and electrolyte shifts, hypovolemic shock, and edema.

VTE prophylaxis

The prevention of venous thromboembolism using methods like low molecular weight heparin or compression devices.

Hypermetabolic state

A condition where the body's metabolic rate is significantly increased, often seen in burn patients with elevated caloric needs.

Necrotic tissue

Dead tissue that begins to slough off in the healing process of burns.

Eschar

A thick, hard crust that forms over a burn wound and needs to be removed for healing to progress.

Contractures

Abnormal shortening of scar tissue leading to decreased range of motion, commonly seen in the musculoskeletal system during burn recovery.

Hypersensitivity

Increased sensitivity to stimuli like heat, cold, or touch, which can occur in newly healed areas post-burn injury.

Scar contractures

Shortening of scar tissue in joints leading to limited mobility, a common complication during the rehabilitation phase of burn recovery.