Head trauma (adult)

Background

• Classification based on GCS
  • 14-15: Mild
  • 9-13: Moderate
  • 3-8: Severe
• B/l pinpoint pupils suggests opiate use or pontine lesion
• Pretreatment w/ lidocaine has not been shown to improve outcomes
• All pts on coumadin should have head CT performed

Diagnosis

• Monitor for increased ICP
  • HA, N/V, sz, lethargy, HTN, bradycardia, agonal respirations, posturing
• Monitor for herniation
  • Ipsilateral fixed and dilated pupil
  • Contralateral motor paralysis

Workup

• Consider brain CT to rule out intracranial hemorrhage
  • Head CT in Trauma (Clinical Decision Rules)

Differential Diagnosis

Intracranial Hemorrhage Types

• Intra-axial
  • Hemorrhagic stroke (Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage)
  • Traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage
• Extra-axial
  • Epidural hemorrhage
  • Subdural hemorrhage
  • Subarachnoid hemorrhage (aneurysmal intracranial hemorrhage)

Maxillofacial Trauma

• Ears
  • Auricular hematoma
• Nose
  • Nasal fracture
  • Nasal septal hematoma
• Oral
  • Dental trauma
  • Lip laceration
  • Tongue laceration
• Other face
  • Le Fort fractures
  • Mandible fracture
• Zygomatic arch fracture
• Zygomaticomaxillary (tripod) fracture
• Related
  • Head trauma (main)
    • Skull fracture
    • Skull fracture (peds)
    • Basilar skull fracture
  • Orbital trauma
    • Eyelid laceration
  • Scalp laceration

Treatment

Prevent further brain injury

1. Head of bed @ 30 degrees
2. Prevent:
   1. Hypotension
   2. Hypoxia
   3. Anemia
   4. Hyperthermia
   5. Coagulopathy
3. Seizure Prophylaxis in Head Trauma

Increased ICP

1. Ensure adequate sedation (prevent gag reflex)
2. IVF to goal MAP >80 (maintains cerebral perfusion)
3. Mannitol
   1. If SBP>90
      1. If SBP>90 in adults use hypertonic saline NaCl 5% 150ml over 10 min
   2. Reduces ICP w/in 30min; duration of action of 6-8hr
   3. Bolus 20% @ 0.25-1 gm/kg as rapid infusion
   4. Monitor I+O to maintain euvolemia
4. Hyperventilation
   1. No longer recommended as prophylactic intervention
      1. Hyperventilation to PaCO2 <25 never indicated
   2. Brief course only recommended if impending herniation (i.e., Cushing reflex)
      1. 1. Maintain PaCO2 28-35 (20 breaths/min)
5. Seizure
   1. Treat immediately
   2. Seizure prophylaxis reduces sz but does not improve long-term outcomes
6. Goal CPP ~60mmHg
   1. If MAP <80, then CPP<60
      1. consider crystalloids or colloids (plasma if INR>1.3)
      2. phenylephrine 10-100mcg/min, or other pressors prn
      3. transfuse PRBCs, Hb>7

See Also

• Head Trauma (Main)
• Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
• Pediatric head trauma

Source

• Annals 2/09, Stein
• Tintinalli