Question 3

S 6 years old suffered a head injury following a road accident

while riding his motorcycle with father.She admitted in a state of
confusion and anxiety.
a. Define head injury. (2 marks)
b. Specific five (5) observations neurological state that
would be done to detect the increase intracranial pressure
(ICP). (5 marks)

Of physical examination conducted on S found some problems

head injury were identified.
c. State the clinical manifestations of head injury.
(5 marks)
a. Define Head Injury

 Head injury is any trauma or pathologic proses

involving the scalp, skull, meninges, or brain as
result of mechanical force.
b. Specific five (5) observations neurological state that would
be done to detect the increase intracranial pressure
1.) vital signs
- Monitor vital signs such pulse, respiration and blood
pressure
• pulse - may be rapid, slow and bounding
• Blood pressure - increase
-its very late signs of increase ICP

2. Skin
- Skin may offer clues to the cause of unconsciousness
3.) Eyes
• assess pupil size and reactivity .
- pupils either do or do not react to light
example:- sudden appearance of a fix and dilated pupil is a
neurosurgical emergency

4.) Motor fuction

• Observation of spontaneous activity, posture, and
response to painful stimuli provides clues to the location
and extent of cerebral dysfuction
Example:- Hyperactivity is more common in acute febrile
and toxic states than in cases of icreased ICP
5.) Posturing
• primitive postural reflexes emerge as cortical control over
motor function is lost in brain dysfunction.
Example:- flexion posturing – (arms held tightly to the body)
occurs with severe dysfunction of the cerebral cortex
State the clinical manifestations of head injury
1.) Irritability
2.) Pallor
3.)Vomiting
- One or more episodes after injury
4.) Lose consciousness
- May or may not lose consciousness

eg:- confusion or abnormal behavior

5.) papilledema
6.) Retinal Hemorrhages
7.) Unsteady gait
8.)Seizures- abnormal brain activity