LATEST HEAD TRAUMA SUMMARY
2025&2026
Your go-to hub for high-quality nursing
note,
summary and exam preps
, Immediate Management
HEAD TRAUMA ▪ ICP monitoring.
COURSE OUTLINE ▪ Cranial CT or Cranial MRI.
▪ IV hypertonic solution to increase intravascular
❖ ETIOLOGY OF HEAD TRAUMA pressure and shift the edema fluid back into the
❖ IMMEDIATE ASSESSMENT blood vessels.
❖ INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE ▪ Steroids to decrease inflammation and edema.
❖ TYPES OF HEAD TRAUMA ▪ Elevate the head.
❖ SEQUELAE OF HEAD TRAUMA
TYPES OF HEAD TRAUMA
CAUSE SKULL FRACTURE
- Crack in the bone skull
Multiple-trauma accidents (vehicular accidents)
Fall Assessment
Struck by objects intentionally or unintentionally
✓ Orbital ecchymosis
GLASGOW COMA SCALE
Eye Opening Score
Opens eye spontaneously when you approach 4
Opens eye in response to speech 3
Opens eye in response to painful stimuli such 2
as pressure in nail bed
Does not open eyes in response to painful 1
stimuli ✓ Postauricular ecchymosis
Motor Response Score
Can obey simple command such as “hand me 6
this pen”
Moves an extremity to locate painful stimulus 5
applied to the head or trunk and attempts to
move the source
Attempt to withdraw from the source of pain 4
Flexes arms at the elbows and wrists in 3
response to painful stimuli to the nail beds
Extends arms in response to painful stimuli 2
✓ Rhinorrhea
No response to pain on any extremity 1 ✓ Otorrhea
Verbal Response Score
Types of Skull Fracture
Oriented to time, place, and person knows or 5
can recognize the names, date, and where
I. Depression fracture
he/she is
II. Compound fracture III. Hairline
Able to converse, although not oriented to 4 fracture
time, place, or person IV. Subdural hematoma
Speaks only in words or phrases that make 3
little or no sense
Responds in incomprehensible sounds 2
No verbal respond 1
Total Score 15
SCORE
3 to 8: severe trauma
9 to 12: moderate trauma
Therapeutic Management
13 to 15: mild/slight trauma
▪ Admission for observation
▪ Semi-Fowler’s position
2025&2026
Your go-to hub for high-quality nursing
note,
summary and exam preps
, Immediate Management
HEAD TRAUMA ▪ ICP monitoring.
COURSE OUTLINE ▪ Cranial CT or Cranial MRI.
▪ IV hypertonic solution to increase intravascular
❖ ETIOLOGY OF HEAD TRAUMA pressure and shift the edema fluid back into the
❖ IMMEDIATE ASSESSMENT blood vessels.
❖ INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE ▪ Steroids to decrease inflammation and edema.
❖ TYPES OF HEAD TRAUMA ▪ Elevate the head.
❖ SEQUELAE OF HEAD TRAUMA
TYPES OF HEAD TRAUMA
CAUSE SKULL FRACTURE
- Crack in the bone skull
Multiple-trauma accidents (vehicular accidents)
Fall Assessment
Struck by objects intentionally or unintentionally
✓ Orbital ecchymosis
GLASGOW COMA SCALE
Eye Opening Score
Opens eye spontaneously when you approach 4
Opens eye in response to speech 3
Opens eye in response to painful stimuli such 2
as pressure in nail bed
Does not open eyes in response to painful 1
stimuli ✓ Postauricular ecchymosis
Motor Response Score
Can obey simple command such as “hand me 6
this pen”
Moves an extremity to locate painful stimulus 5
applied to the head or trunk and attempts to
move the source
Attempt to withdraw from the source of pain 4
Flexes arms at the elbows and wrists in 3
response to painful stimuli to the nail beds
Extends arms in response to painful stimuli 2
✓ Rhinorrhea
No response to pain on any extremity 1 ✓ Otorrhea
Verbal Response Score
Types of Skull Fracture
Oriented to time, place, and person knows or 5
can recognize the names, date, and where
I. Depression fracture
he/she is
II. Compound fracture III. Hairline
Able to converse, although not oriented to 4 fracture
time, place, or person IV. Subdural hematoma
Speaks only in words or phrases that make 3
little or no sense
Responds in incomprehensible sounds 2
No verbal respond 1
Total Score 15
SCORE
3 to 8: severe trauma
9 to 12: moderate trauma
Therapeutic Management
13 to 15: mild/slight trauma
▪ Admission for observation
▪ Semi-Fowler’s position
