Paramedic Recert EMS Care | 23-MCIT-F3-4112 | CNS Injury  starts with the introduction to the topic of Injuries to the Central Nervous System.

This chapter discusses the crucial role played by the paramedics in assessing, managing and transporting patients with CNS injuries. We will review head injuries, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury in detail.

The lessons covered are

• Lesson 1: Head trauma.
• Lesson 2: Traumatic brain injury.
• Lesson 3: Assessment & neurologic evaluation.
• Lesson 4: Spine & nervous system trauma – 1.
• Lesson 5: Spine & nervous system trauma – 2.
• Lesson 6: Traumatic brain injury in sports.

Excerpt from  Paramedic Recert EMS Care | 23-MCIT-F3-4112 | CNS Injury

Concussion is sometimes referred to as a mild DAI. It is caused by an impact of mild to moderate intensity to the skull, movement of the brain within the cranial vault, or both. Concussion is a syndrome of biomechanically induced alteration of brain function, which typically affects memory and orientation, and may involve loss of consciousness. It occurs when the function of the brainstem (particularly the reticular activating system) or both cerebral cortices are temporarily disturbed. This results in a brief altered level of consciousness, but not always a loss of consciousness. If there is a loss of consciousness, it usually lasts less than 5 minutes. A concussion may be a serious injury; no concussion is minor.

An altered level of consciousness or loss of consciousness is often followed by periods of drowsiness, restlessness, and confusion, with a fairly rapid return to normal behavior. The patient may have no memory of the events before the injury (retrograde amnesia). Additionally, amnesia may exist after recovery of consciousness (antegrade amnesia). This inability to create new memories may cause anxiety. The patient may ask repetitive questions (e.g., “Where am I?” “What happened?”). Other signs and symptoms of concussion include vomiting, combativeness, transient visual disturbances (e.g., light flashes, wavy lines), defects in equilibrium and coordination, and changes in blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiration (rare). After physician evaluation, treatment usually consists of observation by a reliable observer for 24 to 48 hours, either at home or in the hospital.