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Concussions

Concussions. James Miller. Introduction. There are many different definitions for a concussion but the basic accepted definition is an injury to the brain caused by an outside force.

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Concussions

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  1. Concussions James Miller

  2. Introduction • There are many different definitions for a concussion but the basic accepted definition is an injury to the brain caused by an outside force. • The injury to the brain can be caused by a blow directly to the head, or anywhere else on the body due to an impulsive force that travels to the head.

  3. Introduction • There are three different levels of severity regarding concussions. • There is more than one chart that defines the signs and symptoms of the different levels of concussions, but I will be using the American Academy of Neurology chart.

  4. History • It is important to find out if the patient has a history of concussions due to the possible risk of multiple concussions. • Concussions occurring after the initial concussion can occur after lighter impacts, or more often in a shorter period of time. They can also take a longer amount of time to recover from and may have a less complete recovery.

  5. Signs and Symptoms • Headache. • Blurred vision. • Dizziness, or loss of balance. • Confusion, or memory loss. • Ringing in the ears. • Nausea. • Difficulty concentrating. • Loss of consciousness. • Irritability. • Photobobia. • Dizziness. • Sensitivity to noise.

  6. Concussion Grade Scale • Grade One • Mild confusion. • No loss of consciousness. • Original mental status returns in less than 15 minutes.

  7. Concussion Grade Scale • Grade Two • Mild confusion • No loss of consciousness, • Original mental status returns after 15 minutes.

  8. Concussion Grade Scale • Grade Three • - Any of the signs and symptoms along with a loss of consciousness.

  9. Evaluation • Evaluation of the injury involves determining the grade of concussion the patient has sustained. • The athletic trainer must also determine whether or not a head, neck, or back injury in likely. If a head, neck, or back injury is suspected the patient will need to be immobilized to prevent further damage.

  10. Evaluation • If a cervical spine injury is ruled out, the patient should then be thoroughly tested for any neurological or cognitive problems. • It is important to note the time that the injury happened so that the grade of the concussion can be determined. • The patient should then be referred to an advanced medical staff for testing and to decide when the patient can go back to their normal routine.

  11. Diagnosis • CT scans, MRIs, and electronystagmographies are tests used to determine how much damage has been done. • These tests are usually used in severe cases only, such as cases involving loss of consciousness or severe amnesia. • Post concussion syndrome can also be diagnosed.

  12. Treatment • There aren’t very many treatment options for concussion patients. • The athlete must be removed from play after experiencing a concussion. If it is grade one the athlete can return to play after the 15 minutes without symptoms. • If grade two the athlete can return to play only after they have one full week without any symptoms. • If grade three the athlete should not return to play until their symptoms subside for at least two full weeks. • The athlete should take pain-relievers if they have a head ache. • The athlete should be monitored to make sure that their symptoms go away in an appropriate amount of time.

  13. Works Cited • American Academy of Family Physicians. Concussions in Sports. Available at: http://familydoctor.org/458.xml. Accessed on 5/30/2006. • Sport Concussion Assessment Tool. AMAA Journal. 2006;18:2:1-2. Available from: EBSCO HOST, Athens, Ohio. Accessed 5/30/2006. • Guskiewicz K, Bruce S, Cantu R, Ferrara M, Kelly J, McMcrea M, Putukian M, McLeod T. National Athletic Trainer’s Association Position Statement: Management of Sport-Related Concussion. Journal of Athletic Training. 2004;39(3):280-297.

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