1. Injuries to the Head and Spine
Chapter 12
Injuries to the Head and Spine

2. Head and Spinal Injuries
Any injury to the head or spine is a serious matter.
An injury to the head can cause:
Brain hemorrhage (traumatic brain injury)
Fracture to the skull
Can send fragments of the skull into the brain
Swelling (edema)

3. Head and Spinal Injuries
Spinal injuries can be life threatening and can cause paralysis.
Spinal cord
Serves as the communication pathway between the brain and the rest of the body

4. Sports that Carry a Higher Risk of Neck Injury
Gymnastics
Ice hockey
Basketball
Football
Diving
Motocross
Extreme sports

5. The Nervous System Main components:
Brain, cranial nerves, spinal cord, spinal nerves and peripheral nerves
System is highly organized and intricate
Main function is to coordinate and regulate the body’s many responses to internal and/or external environmental changes

6. The Nervous System
Basic structural unit of the nervous system is the nerve cell, or neuron
Main function of the neuron is to send information from the body to the brain, and vice versa
Sensory neurons
Afferent neurons

7. The Central Nervous System
Consists of the brain and spinal cord
The brain
Surrounded by a protective barrier of membranes called meninges

8. The Central Nervous System
Parts of the brain include:
Ventricles
Cerebrum
Cerebellum
Midbrain
Pons
Medulla oblongata

9. The Central Nervous System
Spinal cord
Attached to medulla oblongata and continues down to the first or second lumbar vertebrae of the back
Protected by the vertebrae, cerebrospinal fluid, and meninges

10. The Central Nervous System
The spinal cord’s two major functions are to:
Conduct impulses through nerves
Connect body parts to the brain

11. The Peripheral Nervous System
Outside the central nervous system
Responsible for gathering information and carrying the response signals to and from the central nervous system
Composed of the nerves located outside the brain and spinal cord

12. The Peripheral Nervous System
Subdivided into the somatic and autonomic nervous system
Somatic
Controls the skeletal muscles responsible for voluntary movement
Autonomic
Regulates the balance between the involuntary functions of the body and allows the body to react in emergency situations

13. Treating a Downed Athlete
If an athlete is down and unconscious:
Always treat the athlete as if he or she has a possible head or spinal injury.
Start the athlete’s injury assessment by doing a primary survey.
Note the time in case the athlete is unconscious.

14. Treating a Downed Athlete
If an athlete is down and unconscious:
If there is a second person available, have that person keep nonessential personnel away from the athlete.
Second person can also activate emergency action plan
Establish control of the situation.
Record all findings during the history and evaluation.

15. Concussions Caused by a blow or jolt to the head
Cause an alteration in brain function
Cerebral concussion causes immediate symptoms:
Headache, dizziness, nausea, symptoms of disorientation, and confusion resulting from swelling at the point of contact

16. Post-Concussive Symptoms
Any loss of consciousness
Persistent low-grade headache
Light-headedness
Poor concentration
Posttraumatic amnesia
Retrograde
Anterograde

17. Post-Concussive Symptoms
Sleepiness
Loss of concentration
Loss of coordination
Slurred or incoherent speech
Irritability
Anxiety
Depression

18. Post-Concussive Symptoms
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Vacant stare
Disorientation (altered mental status)
Nausea and/or vomiting
Pupils not reacting evenly to light or unresponsive

19. Injuries to the Ear Cauliflower ear Otitis externa (swimmer’s ear)
Rupture of the tympanic membrane
Foreign bodies in the ear

20. Injuries to the Eye Contusions Corneal abrasions or lacerations
Retinal detachment
Foreign bodies and embedded objects
Fractures
Orbital roof and blowout

21. Injuries to the Eye Conjunctivitis Sty Hyphema Ruptured globe
Contact lens complications

22. Injuries to the Nose Nosebleeds (epistaxis) Nasal septal deviation
Nasal septal hematoma
Nasal fractures

23. Injuries to the Mouth and Jaw
Temporomandibular joint dislocation
Jaw fractures
Dislocations and fractures of the teeth
Exposed nerve

24. Injuries to the Spine Contusions Brachial flexus injuries
Abnormal curvatures of the spine
Muscle spasms
Back sprains

25. Injuries to the Spine Back strains Fractures and dislocations
Intervertebral disc herniation
Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis