Compare and contrast
Part 1
Presentation
Pathophysiology
Assessment
Diagnosis
Treatment
Example below:
NOTE: A comparison and contrast assignment is not about listing the info regarding each disease separately but rather looking at each disease side by side and discussing the similarities and differences given the categories below. Consider how each patient would actually present to the office. Basically after you compare/compare, write a brief synopsis
Consider How does the patient history would affect the diagnosis, etc.
We focus on (YOU) the student’s ability to demonstrate specific understanding of how the diagnoses differ and relate to one another. Address the following topics below in your own words:
Presentation (I place the patho first but either way is perfect)
Pathophysiology
Assessment
Diagnosis
Treatment
Pathophysiology of the 2 diagnoses.
Traumatic Brain Injury Patho: Diffuse axonal injury resulting from edema due to the body’s inflammatory response after injury from impact or shearing force. This causes damage to the axonal cytoskeleton which permanently disrupts proper neuronal function (SOURCE)
Post-Concussive Syndrome Patho: neuroinflammatory damage leading to abnormal cerebral perfusion. (SOURCE)
Please not a book report. See my note on what is patho.
Presentation
Traumatic Brain Injury
Physical symptoms include headache, dizziness, fatigue, drowsiness, insomnia, nausea, balance control, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound
Psychological symptoms include irritability, depression
Cognitive symptoms include memory problems, concentration problems, confusion, processing speed decreased
(SOURCE)
Post-Concussive Syndrome
Physical symptoms include headache, dizziness, fatigue, insomnia, sensitivity to noise
Psychological symptoms include irritability, depression
Cognitive symptoms include impaired memory, difficulty concentrating, decreased processing speed, impulse control
(SOURCE)
The differences between conditions are due to the body’s inflammatory protective response which causes damage to the brain tissue and consequently impairs normal brain function.
WHAT ARE THE SIMILARITIES
Assessment
The similarities between the conditions is that they are injuries to the same body system, the brain; therefore, the physical evaluation is the same.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES that makes you diagnose TBI and not PCS?
Traumatic Brain Injury
Patient health history
Medication list
Description of injury
Progression of symptoms
Physical examination
Cognitive evaluation
Vital signs
Post-Concussive Syndrome
Patient health history
Medication list
Description of injury
Progression of symptoms
Physical examination
Cognitive evaluation/Behavioral evaluation
Vital signs
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of the conditions has very few similarities since TBI is an acute condition and requires immediate diagnostic imaging to rule out more severe conditions, such as brain bleeding or fractures. The PCS is a stable condition and a strictly clinical diagnosis (SOURCE)
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?
Traumatic Brain Injury
Glasgow coma scale
Neurological examination
Diagnostic imaging (TYPE, if any)
(SOURCE)
Post-Concussive Syndrome
Glasgow coma scale
Neurological examination
EEG
Neuropsychological testing
(SOURCE)
Treatment
The treatment for both conditions will be different since with a TBI, the goal is to keep the patient quiet and rest when they are in the acute phase of the injury; whereas, for PCS, the goal and plan of care is long-standing.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Rest – both physical and cognitive
Medication management for acute symptoms such as headache, dizziness and pain management
(SOURCE)
What type of medication would be appropriate?
Post-Concussive Syndrome
Medication management for chronic symptoms such as headache, dizziness, depression, and pain management
What type of medication would be appropriate?
Multidisciplinary treatment for physical therapy and psychological therapy
(SOURCE)
References
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