Concussion
Medical Author: Benjamin C. Wedro, MD, FAAEM
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
What is concussion and what causes concussion?
Mild traumatic brain injury, or concussion, can be defined as a short-lived
loss of brain function due to head trauma that resolves spontaneously. With
concussion, function may be interrupted but there is no structural damage to the
brain.
The brain floats in cerebrospinal fluid and is encased in the skull. These
protections allow it to withstand many of the minor injuries that occur in day
to day life. However, if there is sufficient force to cause the brain to bounce
against the rigid bones of the skull, then there is potential for injury. It is
the acceleration and deceleration of the brain against the inside of the skull
that can cause the brain to be irritated and interrupt its function. The
acceleration can come from a direct blow to the head or face, or from other body
trauma that causes the head to shake. While temporary loss of consciousness due
to injury means that a concussion has taken place, most concussions occur
without the patient being knocked out. Studies of football players find that the
majority aren't aware that they had sustained a head injury.
Picture of the brain and potentially brain injury areas
What are the types of concussion?
Historically, attempts to classify the severity of concussion were based on
the loss of consciousness and its duration, and the presence of amnesia. It was
presumed that there was a correlation between those two events and the amount of
potential brain damage. The International Conference on Concussion in Sports
recommended that concussion be divided into two groups: simple and complex.
- Simple concussion: In a
simple concussion, the person the symptoms gradually resolve, and the patient
returns to normal function in 7 - 10 days.
- Complex concussion: In complex concussions, symptoms
persist and thought processes are affected. Patients with repeated concussions
would fall into the complex category.
Next: What are the signs and symptoms of concussion? »
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