Question

Skull radiographs and a computed tomography (CT) scan provide evidence of a depressed parietal fracture with a subdural hematoma in a patient admitted to the emergency department following an automobile accident. In planning care for the patient, the nurse anticipates that

a. the patient will receive life-support measures until the condition stabilizes
b. immediate burr holes will be made to rapidly decompress the intracranial activity
c. the patient will be treated conservatively with close monitoring for changes in neurologic condition
d. the patient will be taken to surgery for a craniotomy for evacuation of blood and decompression of the cranium

Answer 1

In a patient with a depressed parietal fracture and a subdural hematoma, the nurse anticipates that the patient will undergo surgery for evacuation of blood and decompression of the cranium.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a patient with a depressed parietal fracture and a subdural hematoma, the nurse anticipates that the patient will be taken to surgery for a craniotomy for evacuation of blood and decompression of the cranium. This is because a depressed fracture occurs when the fractured bone is pushed inward, causing the formation of a hematoma between the brain and the skull. If not treated, the blood accumulation can exert increasing pressure on the brain, which can be life-threatening.