Traumatic induced alteration in mental status that may or may not be accompanied by loss of consciousness (LOC) Disturbance of brain function without measurable change in brain anatomy. Also called Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI)
An initial evaluation should be performed by a trained coach, certified athletic trainer, or the team physician. This “sideline” evaluation should include the following:
“I didn’t get ‘knocked out’ so I didn’t have a concussion.”
FALSE: Significant injury can occur without loss of consciousness
“I just got my ‘Bell Rung,’ I didn’t have a concussion.”
FALSE: The most common findings associated with getting your “Bell Rung” are consistent with concussion and may place the athlete at risk of developing Second Impact Syndrome (SIS).
“Once the player ‘feels better,’ he can go back in the game.”
FALSE: Experts recommend that no athlete should go back to competition during the same game if the athlete has findings consistent with a concussion.
Second Impact Syndrome is a potentially FATAL injury that occurs when an athlete sustains a second head injury before a previous head injury has completely healed. Unfortunately it is difficult to determine if the brain has healed from the first injury. Even after all symptoms have resolved, healing may not be complete and the brain may still be at increased risk of second impact syndrome. Neurocognitive testing may help doctors determine when it is safe to return to competition.
Neurocognitive testing is a questionnaire the athlete takes (usually by computer) that tests multiple areas of brain function including memory, problem solving, reaction times, brain processing speeds and post-concussion symptoms. It is most valid if the athlete has a pre-injury baseline test on file to compare the post-concussion test. This information can be very helpful to the physician in determining return to play. It is not a substitution for an evaluation by a physician.
Athletes can return to play after they are completely free of all symptoms of a concussion AND when athletes remain completely free of symptoms during and after physical testing.
It is also recommended that athletes be given another neurocognitive test. Neurocognitive testing can be a very helpful tool in determining brain function even after all symptoms of concussion have resolved. With a comparison baseline test this evaluation, in conjunction with a physician’s examination, may reduce risk of
Second Impact Syndrome. Research has shown that youth athletes may take longer than adult athletes for their testing to return to normal.
CT Scans and MRI are not helpful in the evaluation of Concussion or Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI). A physician may recommend these tests if there are other findings discovered during the evaluation of the athlete.