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.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
While a CT angiogram can indeed reveal fractures within the skull or spine, this is not its primary purpose in the context of a subarachnoid hemorrhage. The main goal is to visualize the blood vessels in the brain.
Choice B rationale
A CT angiogram does not primarily reveal overproduction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). It is used to visualize the blood vessels in the brain.
Choice C rationale
While a CT angiogram can show areas of edema within the brain tissue, this is not its main purpose in the context of a subarachnoid hemorrhage. The primary goal is to visualize the blood vessels in the brain.
Choice D rationale
A CT angiogram can indeed reveal decreased blood flow related to vasospasm in the context of a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Vasospasm is a condition in which blood vessels spasm, leading to vasoconstriction. This can reduce blood flow to the brain, which can be visualized on a CT angiogram.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
This statement is incorrect. Nerves do not “go to sleep.”. Peripheral neuropathy in diabetes is caused by damage to the nerves as a result of high blood sugar levels over time.
Choice B rationale
This statement is incorrect. While nerve damage can occur due to various reasons, in the context of diabetes, it is primarily due to prolonged high blood sugar levels.
Choice C rationale
This statement is incorrect. Age and blood flow to the feet are not the primary causes of peripheral neuropathy in diabetes. The primary cause is prolonged high blood sugar levels.
Choice D rationale
This statement is correct. Prolonged high blood sugar levels in diabetes can cause damage to the peripheral nerves, leading to peripheral neuropathy.
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