Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
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Sports-Related
Over the last few years there has been increased appreciation of the frequency
and consequences of mTBI in sports such as professional and amateur boxing,
football and hockey. Inline skating, martial arts and skate boarding are other
examples of activities that can result in mTBI. The Brain Injury Association has
reported that football alone is responsible for approximately 100,000 mTBI's a year
and that among children and adolescents brain injury is the most common injury
in winter sports such as ice hockey, sledding, skiing and ice skating. Sports-
related mTBI can produce the same symptoms as described above.
Recently, a system of assessment and management of mTBI has been
developed for use in sports by the Quality Standards Subcommittee, American
Academy of Neurology (1997). In this system, sports - related mTBI is divided
into three different Grades:
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Grade 1: |
transient confusion
no loss of consciousness
metal status symptoms resolve in > 15 minutes
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Grade 2: |
transient confusion
no loss of consciousness
metal status symptoms lasting > 15 minutes
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Grade 3: |
any loss of consciousness, either brief (seconds) or prolonged(minutes)
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A standard "sideline" evaluation and recommendations for intervention and return
to play are provided. This system has been very helpful to trainers, coaches and
physicians who work athletes and it's adoption in the school setting is highly
recommended. The guidelines can be downloaded from the American Academy
of Neurology's website.