Brain concussion

Template:DiseaseDisorder infobox Concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), is the most common and least serious type of brain injury. Concussion is a "trauma-induced alteration in mental status that may or may not involve loss of consciousness". A loss of consciousness is infrequent although some definitions require a loss of consciousness. It can be caused by acceleration or deceleration forces, or by a direct blow. Concussion is generally not associated with penetrating injuries, but instead with blunt trauma.

Classification

Grades

American Academy of Neurology clinical practice guidelines grade as follows:

Grade 1:

1. Transient confusion
2. No loss of consciousness
3. Concussion symptoms or mental status abnormalities on examination resolve in less than 15 minutes.

Grade 2:

1. Transient confusion
2. No loss of consciousness
3. Concussion symptoms or mental status abnormalities on examination last more than 15 minutes

Grade 3:

1. Any loss of consciousness, either brief (seconds) or prolonged (minutes).

Pathophysiology

The brain floats within the skull surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), one of the functions of which is to protect the brain from normal light "trauma", e.g., being jostled in the skull by walking, jumping, etc., as well as mild head impacts. More severe impacts or the forces associated with rapid acceleration/deceleration may not be absorbed by this cushion.

Concussion is considered a type of diffuse, as opposed to focal, brain injury, meaning that the dysfunction occurs over a more widespread area of the brain.

Excitatory neurotransmitters are released as the result of the traumatic injury and cause the brain to enter a state of hypermetabolism which can last for 7 to 10 days . During this time, the brain needs extra nutrients and is especially sensitive to inadequate blood flow.

Areas of the brain whose function is commonly disturbed in concussion include the reticular formation or the deep structures of the brain, the brainstem or cortices . Damage to cranial nerves and other white matter tracts may be temporary or permanent . Other theories hold that concussion is a diffuse injury affecting all parts of the brain, caused by physical trauma that alters neuronal metabolism and excitability through molecular commotion. Having a concussion does not mean that the patient does not have another brain injury as well; in fact, more serious brain trauma is almost always accompanied by concussion .

Symptoms

The frequency of various symptoms has been studied using collegiate football players: the NCAA Concussion Study.

Symptoms in the NCAA Concussion Study

	Frequency
No loss of consciousness no amnesia	78%
Loss of consciousness	6% (median duration, 30 seconds)
Anterograde amnesia Events after the injury such as exiting the field	19% (median duration, 90 minutes)
Retrograde amnesia Events before the injurty such as inability to recall aspects of the play	7% (median duration, 120 minutes)
Delayed onset of symptoms	12% (mean delay; 14+15 minutes)

In a study of concussions in Australian Football League, 44% (102 of 234) were recorded during television broadcast. Among the concussions recorded on television, 25% showed tonic posturing lasting 2 to 30 seconds with "abduction and elevation of semiflexed arms and shoulders in a 'bear-hug' posture" similar to decorticate rigidity while one-quarter of the patients with posturing also had clonic movements usually less than 10 seconds. Seizures may occassionally occur.

Prognosis

A cohort study of NCAA football players found most signs and symptoms after a concussion resolve by one week. In the same cohort study, slow recovery from concussion is more likely among players with a history of previous concussions.

Second Impact Syndrome

If a patient receives a second blow days or weeks after a concussion, before concussion symptoms have gone away, they are at risk of developing Second Impact Syndrome (SIS) or recurrent traumatic brain injury. In this rare condition, the brain swells dangerously after a minor blow. No one is certain of the cause of this often fatal complication, but some think the swelling is due to the brain's arterioles' loss of ability to regulate their diameter, and therefore a loss of control over cerebral blood flow .

In this dangerous condition, intracranial pressure rapidly rises, the brain can herniate, and brainstem failure can occur within five minutes . When this condition occurs, surgery does not help and there is little hope for recovery . When it is not fatal, the patient can experience persistent muscle spasms and tenseness, emotional instability, hallucinations, and cognitive problems . The condition is fairly rare, with only 35 recorded cases in a 13 year period from football injuries, not all of which were confirmed to be due to SIS .

Treatment

Concussion in sports

Various Clinical practice guidelines address management.

American Academy of Neurology

Clinical practice guidelines from the American Academy of Neurology although not revised since 1996, provide current advice on managing concussion in sports:

Grade 1:

1. "Remove from contest"
2. "Examine immediately and at 5 minute intervals for the development of mental status abnormalities or post-concussive symptoms at rest and with exertion."
3. "May return to contest if mental status abnormalities or post-concussive symptoms clear within 15 minutes.
4. "A second Grade 1 concussion in the same contest eliminates the player from competition that day, with the player returning only if asymptomatic for one week at rest and with exercise."

Grade 2:

1. "Remove from contest and disallow return that day."
2. "Examine on-site frequently for signs of evolving intracranial pathology."
3. "A trained person should reexamine the athlete the following day."
4. "A physician should perform a neurologic examination to clear the athlete for return to play after 1 full asymptomatic week at rest and with exertion."
5. CT or MRI scanning is recommended in all instances where headache or other associated symptoms worsen or persist longer than one week."
6. Following a second Grade 2 concussion, return to play should be deferred until the athlete has had at least two weeks symptom-free at rest and with exertion."
7. Terminating the season for that player is mandated by any abnormality on CT or MRI scan consistent with brain swelling, contusion, or other intracranial pathology."

Grade 3:

1. "Transport the athlete from the field to the nearest emergency department by ambulance if still unconscious or if worrisome signs are detected (with cervical spine immobilization, if indicated)."
2. "A thorough neurologic evaluation should be performed emergently, including appropriate neuroimaging procedures when indicated."
3. "Hospital admission is indicated if any signs of pathology are detected, or if the mental status of the athlete remains abnormal."
4. "If findings are normal at the time of the initial medical evaluation, the athlete may be sent home. Explicit written instructions will help the family or responsible party observe the athlete over a period of time."
5. "Neurologic status should be assessed daily thereafter until all symptoms have stabilized or resolved."
6. "Prolonged unconsciousness, persistent mental status alterations, worsening postconcussion symptoms, or abnormalities on neurologic examination require urgent neurosurgical evaluation or transfer to a trauma center."
7. "After a brief (seconds) Grade 3 concussion, the athlete should be withheld from play until asymptomatic for 1 week at rest and with exertion."
8. "After a prolonged (minutes) Grade 3 concussion, the athlete should be withheld from play for 2 weeks at rest and with exertion."
9. "Following a second Grade 3 concussion, the athlete should be withheld from play for a minimum of 1 asymptomatic month. The evaluating physician may elect to extend that period beyond 1 month, depending on clinical evaluation and other circumstances."
10. "CT or MRI scanning is recommended for athletes whose headache or other associated symptoms worsen or persist longer than 1 week."
11. "Any abnormality on CT or MRI consistent with brain swelling, contusion, or other intracranial pathology should result in termination of the season for that athlete and return to play in the future should be seriously discouraged in discussions with the athlete."

2nd International Conference on Concussion in Sport

The 2nd International Conference on Concussion in Sport recommends:

For the acute injury:

1. The player should not be allowed to return to play in the current game or practice.
2. The player should not be left alone, and regular monitoring for deterioration is essential over the initial few hours after injury.
3. The player should be medically evaluated after the injury.
4. Return to play must follow a medically supervised stepwise process.
5. A player should never return to play while symptomatic.

Return to play protocol:

1. No activity, complete rest. Once asymptomatic, proceed to level 2.
2. Light aerobic exercise such as walking or stationary cycling, no resistance training.
3. Sport specific exercise—for example, skating in hockey, running in soccer; progressive addition of resistance training at steps 3 or 4.
4. Non-contact training drills.
5. Full contact training after medical clearance.
6. Game play.

External links

• [Sport Concussion Assessment Tool] (SCAT card)