A patient is admitted with a head injury from an acceleration/deceleration motor vehicle crash. Which type of injury did this patient most likely experience?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

1. Skull fracture is not typically associated with motor vehicle accidents.
2. Penetrating head trauma is not typically associated with motor vehicle accidents.
3. Concussion is not typically associated with motor vehicle accidents.
4. Contusions and axonal injuries often result from acceleration/deceleration injuries from a motor vehicle crash. Contusions develop as the brain accelerates against the fixed skull, causing disruption of the underlying cerebral parenchyma and blood vessels. This is known as a coup injury. After impacting the skull, the brain may recoil and impact the skull on the opposite side, causing additional damage to the cerebral parenchyma. This is known as a countercoup injury.

A Patient Is Admitted with a Head Injury from an Acceleration/deceleration