Concussions

A concussion is a brain injury caused either by blunt head trauma or an acceleration- deceleration incident. Concussions are most commonly caused by motor vehicle accidents but can also result from contact sports, extreme sports, recreational activities, or activities of daily living.

In recent media, hockey and football have gained the most attention with concussions. However, other sports such as downhill skiing and snowboarding, horseback riding, ice skating, mountain biking and martial arts also have an increased risk of concussion.

The direct cause of concussion is rapid acceleration/deceleration of the brain within the skull causing stretching and compression of neurons which lead to damage.

Symptoms of concussion can be immediate or delayed and include the following:

-Headache

-Disorientation/Confusion

-Lapse in memory

-Altered consciousness (sleepiness, difficulty awaking, blacking out)

-Nausea, vomiting

-Ringing in the ears

-Difficulties with speech, balance, judgment, coordination, concentration, learning

Immediate assessment post-concussion is necessary. Concussion is a self-limiting condition that usually resolves within 2-6 weeks post-injury. Treatment involves total rest from all activity, both physically and mentally. Gradual return to normal activity needs to be graded dependent on severity of the concussion.

Return to play is directly related to severity of the concussion and needs to be assessed by a trained professional. This is incredibly important because a second concussion before complete resolution of the first concussion can lead to an increased risk of dangerous brain injury and swelling.

Therefore, it is incredibly important to seek medical attention following an accident involving a head injury. Concussion is serious and needs to be monitored carefully so that return to play is both timely and safe.

Resources

Pluta, R.M. and C. Lynm. Concussion. 2011. JAMA 306(1):114