Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can range from mild to severe with decision rules available to determine the need for imaging to exclude intra-cranial pathology (Stiell et al. 2005), (Crowe et al. 2010). Initial management is focussed on preventing secondary negative outcomes, with neuroprotective measures and early referral to definitive care.

Following injury, patients may have ongoing clinical symptoms for 3-12 months depending on severity of initial injury. Additionally, the features of post concussive syndrome may persist prompting medical review (Ingebrigtsen 1998). Return to normal activity after a TBI considering sport, work and driving follows a graded approach and should be targeted for the individual patient (Clinical Excellence Queensland 2018).

Training resource kits

Each kit is a collection of tools and resources to guide the effective delivery of a trauma education event. The kits are designed for use in any Queensland Health facility and can be modified by the facilitator to the needs of the learner, as well as the environment in which the education is being delivered.

Immersive scenario

Closed head injury

This resource kit provides healthcare workers with the knowledge and skills on how to assess and manage a closed head injury following traumatic incident.

Duration: 45-60 minutes.

Target Audience: Emergency department medical and nursing clinicians.

Procedural skill

Glasgow coma scale

This package is designed to highlight the importance of and how to perform a structured approach Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) in the assessment of a trauma scenario. It is intended to provide guidance to a facilitator on the instruction of participants in the use of the Glasgow Coma Scale following trauma using case examples.

Duration: 30-45 minutes.

Target Audience: Emergency department medical, nursing and allied health clinicians.

Case discussion

Management of closed head injury

This resource kit provides healthcare workers with the knowledge on how to effectively assess and manage a closed head injury following a traumatic incident.

Duration: 30 minutes.

Target Audience: Emergency department medical and nursing clinicians.

Assessment of closed head injury

This package is designed to highlight the challenges in traumatic brain injury assessment and familiarise the learner with indications and interpretation of advanced imaging.

Duration: 30-45 minutes.

Target Audience: Junior medical officers and nursing staff.

Elderly patient

This resource kit provides a learning framework for the assessment and management of the elderly patient with traumatic brain injury. 

Duration: 20 minutes.

Target Audience: Emergency department nursing clinicians.

Role play

Management of mild closed head injury

This resource is for facilitators to explore the discharge management of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) after initial assessment and treatment.

Duration: 30 minutes.

Target Audience: Emergency department medical, nursing and allied health clinicians.

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Clinical guidelines

Links to relevant clinical guidelines.

Other resources

Other resources and tools on the topic of traumatic brain injury.

Clinical resources

Clinical assessment tools

Clinical decision-making tools

Patient information sheets

Last updated: September 11, 2024