Brain Concussion (cont.)
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.
What are the signs and symptoms of concussion?
The signs and symptoms of concussion may be obvious or subtle. Much of the
experience in caring for mild head injuries comes from the treatment of sports
injuries. Football, hockey, and soccer have high potential for head injury, and
player research has given insight into what symptoms may occur.
While dramatic, loss of consciousness or
seizure are not common in concussion
and do not predict severity. More common are mild
confusion and disorientation.
Symptoms tend not to be objective and may be hard to describe. As well, they may
be delayed for many hours after injury, and sometimes the initial injury may
have been forgotten or discounted.
Typical symptoms of concussion include:
Physical Signs
Since, by definition, concussion does not damage the structure of the brain,
the physical examination should be normal. More subtle findings may include:
- Slow to answer questions or follow directions
- Poor concentration
- Emotional lability (emotional changes or instability)
- Slurred speech
- Personality changes
Next: How is concussion diagnosed? »
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