The nurse recognizes that which type of brain injury has occurred when the integrity of a patient's skill is intact but there is damage to the brain tissue as a result of increased intracranial pressure?

The nurse recognizes that which type of brain injury has occurred when the integrity of a patient's skill is intact but there is damage to the brain tissue as a result of increased intracranial pressure?

• A. Open traumatic brain injury
• B. Diffuse axonal injury
• C. Closed traumatic brain injury
• D. Concussion

Answer: (C)

Closed traumatic brain injury happens when the skull and scalp stay intact, but brain tissue is damaged by forces inside the skull. The increased intracranial pressure from swelling, bleeding, or mass effect can injure brain tissue even though there isn’t a penetrating wound. Because the injury is inside a closed space, higher-level skills or tasks might still seem intact initially, while the tissue damage and pressure are ongoing. This distinguishes it from open TBI, where the skull is breached; from concussion, which is typically a milder, transient disruption; and from diffuse axonal injury, which involves widespread shearing of white matter tracts often with immediate unconsciousness.

Closed traumatic brain injury happens when the skull and scalp stay intact, but brain tissue is damaged by forces inside the skull. The increased intracranial pressure from swelling, bleeding, or mass effect can injure brain tissue even though there isn’t a penetrating wound. Because the injury is inside a closed space, higher-level skills or tasks might still seem intact initially, while the tissue damage and pressure are ongoing. This distinguishes it from open TBI, where the skull is breached; from concussion, which is typically a milder, transient disruption; and from diffuse axonal injury, which involves widespread shearing of white matter tracts often with immediate unconsciousness.