A 54-year-old man is brought to the emergency department 30 minutes after being hit by a car while crossing the street. He had a left-sided tonic-clonic seizure and one episode of vomiting while being transported to the hospital. On arrival, he is not oriented to person, place, or time. Physical examination shows flaccid paralysis of all extremities. A CT scan of the head is shown. This patient's symptoms are most likely the result of a hemorrhage in which of the following structures?
ABetween the dura mater and the arachnoid mater
BInto the cerebral parenchyma
CBetween the skull and the dura mater
DBetween the arachnoid mater and the pia mater
EInto the ventricular system
A 15-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department one hour after sustaining an injury during football practice. He collided head-on into another player while wearing a mouthguard and helmet. Immediately after the collision he was confused but able to use appropriate words. He opened his eyes spontaneously and followed commands. There was no loss of consciousness. He also had a headache with dizziness and nausea. He is no longer confused upon arrival. He feels well. Vital signs are within normal limits. He is fully alert and oriented. His speech is organized and he is able to perform tasks demonstrating full attention, memory, and balance. Neurological examination shows no abnormalities. There is mild tenderness to palpation over the crown of his head but no signs of skin break or fracture. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step?
ADischarge without activity restrictions
BDischarge and refrain from all physical activity for one week
CObserve for 6 hours in the ED and refrain from contact sports for one week
DAdminister prophylactic levetiracetam and observe for 24 hours
EAdminister prophylactic phenytoin and observe for 24 hours
A 4-month-old infant is brought to the emergency department with seizures. CT scan reveals bilateral subdural hematomas of different ages and retinal hemorrhages. Which of the following mechanisms best explains these findings?
AInfectious meningitis
BAcceleration-deceleration forces
CBirth trauma
DGenetic coagulopathy
EDirect impact trauma
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