Canada AM: Information on Concussions
We aired a superbodies segment on concussions during the Olympic Games and CTV Canada AM will also have a report on this issue tomorrow morning. In support of that segment I'd suggest that people check out this website which has excellent information for parents, coaches, and athletes.
ThinkFirst is a national non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of brain and spinal cord injuries. Celebrating over seventeen years in operation, ThinkFirst has been heightening public awareness through education since its inception in 1992, when it was founded by renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Charles Tator. Headquartered in Toronto, our endorsements include a number of prominent organizations including the Canadian Neurosurgical Society, the Canadian Association of Neuroscience Nurses, the Canadian Congress of Neurological Sciences, and the Canadian Spine Society.
The Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine recently published the Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport following the 3rd international Conference on Concussion in Sport held November 2008 in Zurich. Please click below to download the PDF version of the article as well as the accompanying slides. For more information, please visit the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine's website at www.cjsportmed.com.
Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport
Concussion in Sport PowerPoint Presentation
The recent review article in the journal Pediatrics can be downloaded here.
You can also check out the NY Times Health section that focuses on concussions here.
You can read a summary on concussions below (read reference page):
What is it?
A concussion is a trauma-induced injury to the brain occurring after a blow to the head. It can cause confusion, amnesia and loss of consciousness.
Who gets it?
Over 1.1 million adults and children in the U.S. suffer a concussion each year, most of them occurring to young men between 16 and 25 years of age.
The risk of concussion from football is extremely high, especially at the high school level. Studies show that approximately one in five players suffer concussion or more serious brain injury during their brief high-school careers. The rate at the collegiate level is approximately one in twenty.
What causes it?
A concussion occurs when a blow to the head causes the brain to be jarred against the skull with sufficient enough force to cause temporary loss of function in the higher centers of the brain. A concussion may result from a fall, car accident, sports injury, or any action that results in a blow to the head. In motor vehicle accidents, a concussion can occur without an actual blow to the head. Instead, concussion occurs because the skull suddenly decelerates or stops, which causes the brain to be jarred against the skull.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of a concussion include headache, dizziness, loss of consciousness, and a lump, cut, bruise or swelling on the head. Other signs are numbness, nausea, vomiting, mental confusion, or memory problems. The patient may feel tired, not see clearly, have incoherent or incomprehensible speech, ringing in the ears and have amnesia for the events just prior to the blow. The symptoms of a concussion may last several minutes to several hours, with more severe, longer-lasing symptoms indicating a more severe brain injury.
How is it diagnosed?
To diagnose a concussion, the doctor may play close attention to the patient’s symptoms and progression immediately after the accident. The duration of unconsciousness and degree of confusion are very important indicators of the severity of the injury and help guide the diagnostic process and treatment decisions. The doctor may perform a neurologic exam of the pupils, coordination, sensation and brief tests of orientation, memory and concentrations. Questionable or more severe cases may require CT or MRI scans to look for brain injury.
What it the treatment?
Treatment for a concussion will depend upon the severity of symptoms. A grade one or two concussion where the patient remains conscious and other symptoms disappear within one week can usually be treated with rest and continued observation. The patient may return to contact sports only after all symptoms have completely resolved. Worsening of symptoms, or continuation of any symptoms beyond one week may indicate the need for a CT or MRI scan.
A patient with a grade three concussion (involving any loss of consciousness, no matter how brief) should be examined by a medical professional either on the scene or in an emergency room. The doctor may perform a CT or MRI scan along with a thorough neurological and physical exam if the patient’s symptoms are severe. The patient may be hospitalized if any abnormalities are found or if confusion persists. Following discharge from professional care, the patient may be closely monitored for neurological symptoms that may arise or worsen. Contact sports should be avoided for one week following unconsciousness of only seconds, and for two weeks for unconsciousness of a minute or more.
It is important that a patient who has sustained a concussion of any severity avoid the possibility of another blow to the head until after all symptoms have cleared to prevent second impact syndrome. Second impact syndrome occurs when a person with a concussion, even a very mild one, suffers a second blow before fully recovering from the first. The brain swelling and increased pressure on the brain can potentially be fatal.
A recent study indicates repeated concussions may be associated with the later development of clinical depression. In a study of the nearly 2,500 retired professional football players, 263 suffered from depression. Researchers found players who sustained three or four concussions had twice the risk of depression, compared with those with no history of the mild brain injury. Having sustained at least five concussions nearly tripled the risk of depression.
Self-care tips
Using appropriate protective gear, such as helmets when participating in contact sports such as bicycling, skiing or horseback riding, may prevent many concussions. Seat belts and air bags in automobiles can also prevent concussions.
This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice.
Greg D. Wells, Ph.D.
Reader Comments (1)
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