PTA Physical Therapy Assistant

Answer: B - Diffuse axonal injury is not a secondary brain damage.

Diffuse axonal injury occurs due to direct impact. As a result of mechanical sheering following compression and deceleration, causing disruption and tearing of axons.

Intracranial hematoma, cerebellar swelling and tonsillar herniation are characteristics of the secondary brain damage that may occur any time after the initial impact.

Intracranial hematoma can be extradural and intradural.

Cerebral swelling occurs due to vascular engorgement or increase in extracellular / intracellular fluid.

Tonsillar herniation occurs due to increased intracranial pressure which leads to midline shift followed by medial temporal lobe that herniates through the tentorial hiatus.