Question: Sally Hartford, Age 25, Was Bicycle Riding With Friends When She Was Thrown From Her Bike. She Was Briefly Unconscious, Got Up, Appeared Oriented And Said She Just Saw “stars.” Paramedics Were Called. On The Scene, She Was Immediately Placed On Backboard And Cervical Collar Prior To Transport To The Emergency Room. Sally Was Admitted To The Emergency …

Sally Hartford, age 25, was bicycle riding with friends when she was thrown from her bike. She was briefly unconscious, got up, appeared oriented and said she just saw “stars.” Paramedics were called. On the scene, she was immediately placed on backboard and cervical collar prior to transport to the emergency room. Sally was admitted to the Emergency Department where a physical exam revealed she was alert and oriented, all neurological function intact, T980, PR 82/min, RR 20/min, BP 120/70. She complained of a mild headache. X-rays and CT scans show a linear fracture of R temporal bone over the middle meningeal artery area. She is admitted for observation. Two hours post admission, the nurse observes that Sally is becoming restless, level of consciousness (LOC) decreasing, changes in speech pattern, pupil dilating on R side, grips and pushes on L side weaker than R. Neurosurgeon is notified and Sally is prepared for surgery. Sally returns from surgery post evacuation of Repidural hematoma and vascular repair of R middle meningeal artery. She has R bone flap, a ventriculostomy connected to the monitor. Her soft helmet dressing is clean and dry. Vital signs: T980, P80, R 18, BP 120/60. Why is Sally placed on backboard and cervical collar prior to transport to the emergency room? (1 point) 6. If Sally progresses to a comatose state, complications will result to either mortality or morbidity. Compare and contrast brain death, cerebral death, vegetative coma, and locked-in syndrome. (2 points)