SUBFALCINE HERNIATION

Course overview

HERNIATION OCCURS WHEN BRAIN TISSUE IS DISPLACED ACROSS A STRUCTURE WITHIN THE CRANIUM. SUBFALCINE HERNIATION IS THE MOST COMMON FORM OF BRAIN HERNIATION AND OCCURS WHEN BRAIN TISSUE IS DISPLACED UNDER THE FALX CEREBRI. THE FALX CEREBRI IS THE SICKLE-SHAPED DURA MATER THAT SPANS THE LENGTH OF THE CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES AND EXTENDS DOWNWARD INTO THE LONGITUDINAL FISSURE, SEPARATING THE CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES AND LEAVING A FREE EDGE INFERIORLY. IN SUBFALCINE HERNIATION, THE CINGULATE GYRUS HERNIATES, AND IF PROGRESSION OCCURS, MORE AREAS OF THE FRONTAL LOBE ARE INVOLVED. THE LOCATION OF THE HERNIATION DETERMINES THE PRESENTING SYMPTOMS AND CLINICAL OUTCOMES. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS HOW TO PROPERLY EVALUATE FOR SUBFALCINE HERNIATION AND FURTHER STEPS THAT MUST BE TAKEN WHEN THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT. THIS ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR PATIENTS WITH THIS SUBFALCINE HERNIATION.