Traumatic Brain Injury Diagnosis: How Relevant Is the Neurological Pupil Index in Treating Patients?
In diagnosing traumatic brain injury (TBI), the neurological pupil index (NPI) is a simple and quick assessment tool that medical professionals can use to determine whether an individual has suffered head trauma. The NPI is simply a measurement of how much light can pass through each pupil in response to light intensity changes. When there are no changes in light intensity, both pupils should constrict equally. However, in TBIs, one pupil may not constrict as much as the other. This difference in pupil response is called anisocoria and can be used to help diagnose a TBI. This article explores how the NPI works, why it's essential to use this assessment tool for traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and what the results mean.