head and facial injury
Start with the big picture
Begin with an ABCDE assessment and cervical spine immobilisation, while rapidly checking neurological status and controlling bleeding. Certain findings—including a low GCS, focal neurological deficit, repeated vomiting, seizure, unequal pupils, or suspected skull fracture—signal the need for urgent transfer and assessment. The lesson also explains how clinical history informs imaging decisions, and what to document, such as loss of consciousness, amnesia, medicines, allergies, and tetanus status. Management may involve careful pain and nausea control, treatment of suspected raised intracranial pressure, infection prevention, or anticoagulation reversal. Eye and facial injuries call for specific precautions, including shielding an injured eye and avoiding nasal packing when basal skull fracture is suspected.
What you'll learn
- Apply ABCDE assessment and cervical spine precautions in head and facial injury.
- Recognize findings that warrant urgent transfer and CT assessment.
- Identify key history and examination details to document.
- Describe medication and supportive-care considerations for common injury presentations.
- Recognize precautions for eye trauma, facial wounds, and suspected skull-base injury.
Continue your study
Work through the complete notes and reinforce the topic with the study tools available in the full lesson.
