A nurse is educating a group of high school students about the damage caused by penetrating traumatic brain injuries.
Which statement should the nurse include in the teaching?
Damage to the brain is related to the size, route, and speed of the object entering the brain.
Damage occurs from the penetrating injury causing leakage of cerebrospinal fluid.
Damage to the brain is related to coup and contrecoup injuries.
Damage occurs from the penetrating object shattering the skull and causing an infection.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale
Penetrating traumatic brain injuries can cause significant damage to the brain. The extent of this damage is often related to the size, route, and speed of the object entering the brain. A larger, faster object or one that follows a path through vital areas of the brain can cause more severe injury. This is because the object can disrupt normal brain tissue and function, leading to a range of potential effects, from temporary changes in brain function to long-term complications or even death.
Choice B rationale
While it is true that a penetrating injury can cause leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), this is not the primary source of damage in such injuries. CSF leakage can lead to complications such as meningitis, an infection of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
However, the primary damage in penetrating brain injuries comes from the direct physical disruption of brain tissue by the object.
Choice C rationale
Coup and contrecoup injuries are terms used to describe injuries that occur at the site of impact (coup) and on the opposite side of the brain (contrecoup). These injuries are typically associated with blunt force trauma, not penetrating injuries. In a penetrating injury, the damage is localized to the path that the object has taken through the brain, rather than at the point of impact and its opposite side.
Choice D rationale
While a penetrating object can indeed shatter the skull and potentially cause an infection, the primary damage in penetrating brain injuries is caused by the direct injury to the brain tissue itself. Infections are a secondary complication that can occur if bacteria enter the brain through the wound.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Pulmonary embolus is a serious condition that can occur due to prolonged immobility, but it is not directly related to the timing of enteral nutrition in a client with increased intracranial pressure.
Choice B rationale
Bacterial translocation refers to the migration of bacteria from the gut to other areas of the body. Early enteral nutrition (within 24 to 48 hours) in critically ill patients can help maintain the integrity of the gut mucosa and prevent bacterial translocation. Therefore, starting enteral nutrition within this timeframe can help prevent bacterial translocation.
Choice C rationale
Deep vein thrombosis, like pulmonary embolus, is a risk due to immobility but is not directly related to the timing of enteral nutrition.
Choice D rationale
Myocardial infarction is a cardiac event that could be related to overall cardiovascular health, stress, or specific injury to the cardiac muscle. It is not directly prevented by the initiation of enteral nutrition.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from your face to your brain. It does not cause a sensation of tightness around the torso.
Choice B rationale
Lhermitte’s sign is a symptom of multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions where a person feels an electric shock-like sensation running down the spine and into the limbs. It does not cause a sensation of tightness around the torso.
Choice C rationale
The sensation of tightness around the torso in a patient with multiple sclerosis is often referred to as the “MS hug”. It is caused by a lesion or an area of active inflammation within the spinal cord.
Choice D rationale
Paroxysmal spasms are a type of muscle spasm experienced by some people with multiple sclerosis. These spasms are usually painful and involve the muscles of the legs, but they do not cause a sensation of tightness around the torso.
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