TBI: The Daily PANCE Blueprint
A patient presents to the ER with suspected traumatic brain injury after a fall. What is the initial imaging test of choice?
A. MRI of the brain
B. Non-contrast CT scan of the head
C. Lumbar puncture
D. EEG
E. Skull X-Ray
Answer and topic summary
The answer is B. Non-contrast CT scan
A traumatic brain injury is defined as a physiological or structural disruption of the brain caused by a head injury. Etiologies include falls (leading cause), motor vehicle accidents, sports, assault, gunshot wounds, etc. Clinical features may include altered consciousness, headache, symptoms of increased ICP (e.g., altered mood, dizziness, nausea/emesis), and neurological deficits (e.g., hemiparesis, sensory loss, diplopia). Management includes starting the primary survey with ABCDE evaluation (airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure), assessing their GCS, obtaining a non-contrast CT head and cervical spine, and then secondary survey (MOI, on any AC?, physical exam, serial neurological exams). The goal is to prevent secondary brain injury. Surgical intervention may be warranted.
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Covered under ⇒ PANCE Blueprint Neurology ⇒ ⇒
