Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC) Practice Exam

Seizures are a well-known complication that can arise from traumatic brain injury (TBI). The brain may be left vulnerable following trauma, leading to disruption in normal electrical activity and increasing the likelihood of seizure activity. Post-traumatic seizures can occur immediately after the injury or can develop days to weeks later as a consequence of the traumatic event. This association is particularly notable in cases of significant brain injury where structural changes may provoke seizures.

Understanding the context of TBI complications is essential. While pulmonary embolism, hypotension, and rhabdomyolysis can also occur in trauma patients, they are not directly linked to the brain injury itself. Pulmonary embolism typically relates to prolonged immobility or clotting disorders, hypotension may arise from shock or hemorrhage, and rhabdomyolysis is more commonly associated with muscle injury rather than brain trauma. Thus, recognizing seizures as a direct complication of TBI underscores the need for vigilant neurological monitoring in trauma care settings.