A concussion, also called a mild traumatic brain injury, is a temporary disturbance of normal brain function. It is usually caused by the brain shifting in the skull due to a hard impact to the head. Less commonly, rapid acceleration or deceleration may result in a concussion. When either of these events occur, the brain can bruise from hitting against the skull and nerves or blood vessels can be injured. The most common reasons for a person to get a concussion are car accidents, falls, sports injuries, and physical violence. A person who has previously suffered from a concussion is more likely to experience another one in the future.
Symptoms
A person who suffers a concussion may or may not lose consciousness. Anyone who has received a strong blow to the head should be carefully monitored for the next few days for any signs or symptoms of a concussion, not being left alone for long periods of time, even if they think nothing is wrong with them. A concussion is not always easily or immediately recognized. The person should discontinue participating in sports or any other activities with risk of injury during this time as receiving a second injury to the brain before an initial concussion has healed can be very dangerous.
The signs of concussion to watch out for are unconsciousness for a couple of seconds up to thirty minutes, memory loss (especially of the time period surrounding the event), headaches, dizziness, confusion, nausea, unusual tiredness or anxiety, lack of balance or coordination, difficulty thinking or making decisions, excessive irritability, blurry vision, and saying things that don’t sense or speaking with a slur. If there is any loss of consciousness due to head injury or symptoms appear to get worse over time, the victim should go to a hospital or see a doctor immediately.
Additionally, certain criteria suggest that a concussion may be more serious than it initially appears. These include vomiting, longer term memory loss, seizures, a fractured skull, visible bruises on or near the head, falling from at least three feet, and having been injured in a car accident.
Medical Diagnosis
When someone with a potential concussion sees a doctor, the doctor will ask for information about how the head injury occurred and ask very basic questions such as, “What year is it?” This is to make sure the patient is thinking clearly. The neurological exam will also screen for problems with reflexes, vision/hearing, memory loss, and coordination. X-rays will usually be taken, and in some situations a CT scan or MRI is warranted to make sure there is not excessive internal bleeding.
In most cases, the patient will be sent home the same day with instructions for how someone should monitor them. This may include waking the person with the head injury every few hours through the night just to be sure that they are able to regain normal consciousness, and watching for the initial symptoms mentioned above. Other times, an overnight stay in the hospital is necessary to be observed by medical personnel. Only in severe cases are more drastic measures needed.
Classification System
There are five different grades into which a concussion can be classified, depend on its severity. A grade I concussion is the least serious and displays only minor symptoms, such as brief confusion. Many people have had a grade I concussion without realizing it. Someone with a grade II concussion typically has symptoms that last longer than fifteen minutes, brief memory loss, and confusion. The more severe grades display some or all of the more minor symptoms, as well loss of consciousness that lasts less than five for grade III, between five and ten minutes for grade IV, and more than ten minutes for grade V.
The classification system is important because it determines how quickly the patient can resume normal activities. There are also special restrictions for people who suffer multiple concussions within a given period of time, depending on the grade of each concussion. Injuries on the front of the brain are usually less problematic than those to the back, left side, or right side of the brain.
Postconcussion Syndrome
Someone who has been diagnosed with a concussion, especially of a more severe grade, should be monitored to see how long the symptoms last. Postconcussion syndrome is when the initial signs of memory loss, confusion, et cetera, are still present a couple of months after the injury. A doctor should be aware of lingering symptoms so that proper action can be taken. Some patients will require rehabilitation therapy.
