Contusions and Their Implications

Flashcards covering the key concepts related to contusions, including causes, types, and implications for the brain.

What is the primary cause of discoloration in contusions?

The escape of blood from blood vessels.

What factors affect the amount of blood that escapes from vessels in a contusion?

Size of the contusion, pressure within it, ability to clot, and space available for blood to leak into.

What are the three subcategories of contusions?

1. Deep seated (hematomas), 2. Beneath the skin (bruises), 3. In the skin (patterned bruises).

What does the clinical meaning of contusion refer to?

A diagnosis of prolonged loss of consciousness with clinical signs of brain injury after a blow to the head.

When is the term 'contusion of the brain' not used?

When there are dramatic clinical signs like paralysis, where it is referred to as 'head injury with hemiplegia'.

What occurs to the brain tissue during a contusion of the brain substance?

Forces may cause the crests of the gyri to contact the inner surface of the skull, resulting in small linear hemorrhages.

How are the early hemorrhages from a brain contusion described?

They resemble splinters of wood under a fingernail.