Transcript File
Concussion
SBRCSNO SPRING 2016 CONFERENCE
PRITHA DALAL, M.D.
REHABILITATION MEDICINE
CONCUSSION PROGRAM DIRECTOR
RADY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL-SAN DIEGO
STAFF PHYSICIAN, DEPT. OF PEDIATRICS, UC SAN DIEGO
Objectives
Initial Management of Head injury
Normal concussion symptoms
Concerning symptoms
Concussion management
Return to learn and play
Accommodations for school
Prolonged recovery
Concussion
Brain injury that is defined as a complex
pathophysiological process affecting the brain and
induced by biomechanical forces.
It can be caused by direct or indirect force to the
head, neck or face.
Concussion
There is usually a rapid onset of short lived
impairment of neurologic function that resolves
spontaneously. In some cases signs and symptoms
may evolve over minutes to hours.
Although this creates a complex neuro-metabolic
cascade at the cellular level within the brain, there is
no structural damage or bleed.
Sideline assessment
Emergency management – CAB’s
Rule out cervical spine injury
Address first aid issues first
Monitor player for deterioration over first 24 hours.
Do not need to wake up in the middle of night!
Pediatric GCS Traumatic Brain Injury
Severity
GCS
Mild traumatic brain injury 13-15
Moderate TBI
9-12
Severe TBI
3-6
Imaging
Head CT – image gently
Focal neurologic findings
Symptoms of increased intracranial pressure
Seizure activity
GCS less than 15
Concerning findings for spinal cord injury
Other injuries
Concussion Symptom List
Headache
Pressure in
head
Neck pain
Nausea
Vomiting
Dizziness
Blurred vision
Balance
problems
Sensitivity to
light
Sensitivity to
noise
Feeling slowed Feeling “in a
down
fog”
“Don’t feel
right”
Difficulty
Difficulty
concentration remembering
Fatigue/low
energy
Confusion
Drowsiness
Trouble falling More
asleep
emotional
Irritability
Sadness
Nervousness
Anxious
Trouble staying
asleep
Red flags that Need ED Evaluation
Progressively
Worsening confusion
worsening headache
or irritability
Focal weakness or
numbness
Increased lethargy
Continued
vomiting
Seizure
Difficulty walking
Speech changes
Unequal pupils
Concern for skull
fracture
Blood in ear
drum/canal
Disorientation
Patient that Needs ED evaluation
Please provide as much information as possible as to
what happened and your assessment
Most patients will appropriately not need a Head CT.
Concussion is a clinical diagnosis.
Initial instructions for Concussion
Recommend REST
For at least first 24-48 hours recommend physical and
cognitive rest
Should be evaluated by Primary care provider with in
next 2-3 days
Tylenol is ok to take for headache
Monitor for neurologic changes for next 4-6 hours.
SHOULD NOT WAKE UP child at night or keep
awake.
Initial instructions
Patient should consider taking at least one day off of
school depending on symptoms
Should not return to school until symptoms are
improved unless it has been over 2 weeks.
Concussion Assessment Tools
ImPact testing – Computer based
SCAT 3 – Symptom score, cognitive testing and
balance testing
ACE- Symptom list, history and information
Physician Visit
History
Physical examination – full neurologic examination
Check balance
Cognitive testing
Cognitive examination
Cognitive Assessment
BESS
BESS
BESS
Physician Visit
Should give recommendations for Return to Learn
Should also give recommendations for Return to
Play
Should give medication recommendations to take for
symptom management
Risk Factors
Risk factors – for prolonged recovery
History of previous concussion lasting longer than 1 week
Previous history of headaches or migraines
History learning disability, ADHD, Speech therapy
History of anxiety or depression
Treatment/Instructions
Cognitive and physical rest
Physical rest
Can walk
Stay around house
Progress activity if asymptomatic
Cognitive Rest
Avoid screens
Limiting thinking activities
Avoid loud areas
Cognitive rest
Initially this means being in a quiet/dark if needed room
and limiting thinking activities
Once feeling better can start playing simple games/board
games, crafts
If starting new activity only do it for 10-15 minutes and
monitor for increasing symptoms
Limit screens – videogames, iPads seem to be worse
TV and Movies- rest breaks
Treatment
Reminders for cognitive activities
Every day activities can cause symptoms
Grocery stores – loud, bright lights
Sitting in car- can trigger symptoms
Church – singing, loud noises can be trigger
Watching sports also not recommended
Symptom Treatment
Headaches
Acetaminophen – first 24 hrs
NSAIDs after risk for bleed decreased
Rest
Sleep
Reinforce normal sleep hygiene
Can try Melatonin for sleep- helps more with
difficulty falling asleep
Trazodone – staying asleep in more severe cases
Return to Learn
Even if student is feeling better symptoms may worsen
with starting school
Patient should be able to walk around for 20 minutes at
home with out significant increase in symptoms.
If still having symptoms but improving start back at ½
days of school
Accommodations should be put in place based on
symptoms
Return to Learn CIF
Return to Learn CIF
CIF School Accommodations
CIF School Accommodations
CIF School Accommodations
Are we overwhelmed yet?
Communication
Student advocate
Help with transition
Ask questions
Look for red flags
Cases/Questions
Return to Play
Patients should be tolerating full days of school prior to starting
return to sport process
Ideally would like to be completely asymptomatic or at baseline
before returning to activity to prevent second injury
Return to play should ALWAYS be a graduated return to
activities
CIF rules
California Law states that full competition for
athletes cannot be sooner than 7 days and that
progression must be supervised by a DO or MD.
Graduated Return to Sports- CIF
Graduated Return to Sports- CIF
Graduated Return to Sports- CIF
Sport Specific
Sport Specific
Return to Play
Questions?
Prolonged Recovery Considerations
Once patient has had symptoms for over 2 weeks
complete rest no longer appropriate
Start physical activity- gentle and gradual – still NO
contact
Aggressively treat symptoms
Prolonged Recovery Treatments
Physical symptoms
Headaches
Long term headache medications
Rebound headache concerns
Neck pain
Dizziness
Physical therapy
Vestibular therapy
Blurry vision
Nausea
Fatigue
Increase activity
Monitor sleep
Prolonged Recovery Treatments
Balance difficulties
Physical therapy
Sleep
Medications
Good Sleep Hygeine
Cognitive difficulties
Strongly consider 504 plan
Consider setting up meeting
Prolonged Recovery considerations
Emotional/mood symptoms
Concussion symptoms similar to anxiety/depression
symptoms
Recommend talking to school counsellor or psychologist
Normalize symptoms
Help with plan for stressors
Prolonged Symptom Recovery
Activity
Progress to non-contact activity that does not increase
symptoms (subthreshold)
Recommend physical activity daily
Encourage athletes to find new activities until symptoms
improve
Prevention
Helmets/headbands
Prevent against skull fracture and worse head injury but do not
prevent concussion
Should they stay out of sport?
Risks vs Benefit of sports
Concussion Clinic Information
Dr. Pritha Dalal – [email protected]
Rehabilitation Medicine
858-966-1700 ext 2661
Fax – 858-966- 6721
Administrative Assistant- Gina Luna
References
McCrory P, Meeuwisse WH, Aubry M, et al. Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the
4th International Conference on Concussion in Sport held in Zurich, November 2012. Br J
Sports Med 2013;47:250-258.
Halstead ME, Walter KE. Report—Sport-Related Concussion in Children and Adolescents.
Pediatrics 2010;126:596-615.
SCAT3 Sports concussion Assessment Test. Br J Sports Med 2013 47: 259
Child SCAT 3. Br J Sports Med 2013, 47: 263
Heads Up: Concussion http://www.cdc.gov/HeadsUp/index.html Page last updated February
16, 2015. Accessed April 4th, 2016.
Giza CC and Hovda DA. The Neurometabolic Cascade of Concussion. Journal of Athletic
Training. 2001;36(3):228-235.
Maugans TA, Farley C, Altaye M, Leach J, Cecil KM. Pediatric Sports-related Concussion
Produces Cerebral Blood Flow Alterations. Pediatrics. 2012 January; 129(1) 28-37.
Zemek R, Barrowman N, Freedman SB, et al. Clinical Risk Score for Persistent Postconcussion
Symptoms Among Children With Acute Concussion in the ED. JAMA. 2016;315(10):1014-1025
BESS http://knowconcussion.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/BESS.pdf
Accessed – April 4th, 2016
May KH, Marshal DL, Burns TG, Popoli DM, Polikandroitis JA. Pediatric Sport Specific Return
to Play Guidelines Following Concussion. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2014 Apr; 9(2): 242–255
California Interscholastic Federation Concussion. http://cifstate.org/sportsmedicine/concussions/index Accessed April 4th, 2016.