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Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
AAEM/RSA Social Media Committee '16-'17
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With school back in session and autumn just around the corner, the fall sports season is upon us, and where there are athletic competitions, there are bound to be concussions. Nearly half of all emergency department (ED) visits for concussions are sports related, with 4 in 1000 children ages 8 to 13 and 6 in 1000 children ages 14 to 19 presenting to the ED each year for a concussion sustained during an organized team sport.[1] Furthermore, sports are second only to motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of traumatic brain injury among people ages 15 to 24.[2] From football and cheerleading, to swimming and basketball, each sport has its own risk for head injury. For those of us who find ourselves caring for these young beaten warriors, here is what you need to know about what makes sports-related concussions such a challenging diagnosis.
1) Clinical symptoms are often subtle and may manifest with immediate or delayed onset.
A concussion is defined as a disturbance in brain function caused by a direct or indirect force to the brain resulting in a disruption of neural membranes.[1,3] This leads to a variety of non-specific signs and symptoms. Although symptoms typically present immediately after injury, some may not appear until several hours following impact. There are even patients who present days later with delayed or worsening symptoms. Common manifestations of concussions include:[2,3]
