Final answer:
Those at greatest risk for intracranial regulation problems include young children, adolescents, the elderly, and individuals with infections, trauma, and congenital disorders. The neurological exam is critical to distinguish between types of brain injury. Falls and vehicle accidents are common causes of traumatic brain injuries associated with these risks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Populations at the greatest risk for intracranial regulation problems include those with increased vulnerability to infections, individuals who have suffered trauma, particularly traumatic brain injuries, and those with congenital disorders. The neurological exam is crucial for diagnosing and differentiating between acute events like strokes and chronic conditions, such as results from blunt force trauma. Signs of global cognitive dysfunction, including complete loss of language function, may present differently than more discrete symptoms, such as difficulty saying certain types of words.
Special focus is on populations that are statistically more likely to incur head injuries, such as young children (ages 0-4 years), adolescents (ages 15-19 years), and the elderly (over 65 years). These age groups are most at risk due to falls, motor vehicle accidents, and sports-related impacts. Severe outcomes like immediate death, disability, bleeding, and infection can arise from these injuries. Head and traumatic brain injuries can lead to various types of skull fractures—linear, comminuted, depressed, and contrecoup—which can all result in serious complications, including damage to the brain and cerebral arteries.