Traumatic head Injury is the most common cause of death and disability in the UK (National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), 2014) and is the world’s leading cause of morbidity and mortality of those under the age of 45 (Wilson, 2011). A head injury has an impact in epidemiological and economic terms as well as loss in quality of life (Mar et al. 2011). Approximately 700,000 people per year in England and Wales attend an emergency department for head injury, with almost half being the result of falls (NICE, 2007 & Clinical Knowledge Summary, 2009). The vast majority of patients (90%) will have minor head injuries (Vos et al. 2012) and be discharged, however many patients will need to be admitted for definitive care and …show more content…
This is known as Monro-Kellie hypothesis (Porth, 2011). Severe head injury can affect the compensatory mechanisms resulting in them becoming rapidly exhausted (Deitch & Dayal, 2006) and failing. If Sam was showing symptoms such as confusion, memory loss and reduced ability to move his body this would be indicative of cerebral hypoxia, which could be a result of ICP increasing above 20 mmHg (Brain Trauma Foundation, 2007). If ICP increases and unrelieved, compression of the brainstem could occur, causing Sam to become bradycardia, hypertensive and have a decreased respiratory rate, known as the Cushing’s response. The brain is dependent on blood flow to provide oxygen and nutrients to the neurones and remove waste products. The cerebral blood flow (CBF) is generally constant 700ml/min, approximately 15% of total cardiac output due to the brains ability to autoregulate, by the cerebral arterioles vasoconstricting/vasodilating, in response to cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) (Porth, 2011). CPP represents the blood pressure gradient across the brain and can be calculated by subtracting ICP from systemic mean arterial pressure (MAP). Normal CPP ranges from 50 – 70mmHg with a CPP below 30mmHG incompatible with life (Adam, 2009). It is when CPP falls below 50mmHG or rises above 150mmHG that autoregulation fails and CBF becomes
Being home and at school are the primary locations for students and adolescents and where they spend the most time of their day. When a student is diagnosed with a TBI, it can dramatically affect their school performance. After a student experiences a TBI, school is one one of the many stepping stones where recovery and development is offered and can be used as an intervention. For schools to be able to offer the appropriate educational measures adjusted for the needs of the student, the appropriate support and recovery process for the student, schools having the appropriate documentation and knowledge about the student’s injury.
The dependent variables included outcomes from these hits and as well as signs and symptoms from repeated head trauma. In all articles and reviews, the clear confounding variable was the amount of times people were severely exposed to hits directly to the head. Repetitive hits to the head correlated directly with the outcomes of the patients, as well as symptoms. It was obvious to note that greater head injury led to greater and more severe consequences for patients.2,3,5 If possible, I plan to utilize an athlete who experienced repetitive head injuries over the course of several years in my report to investigate if I can find visible signs of CTE. If not, perhaps my greatest ally will be to interview a neurologist and get their input on the matter itself. For this study, a literature review will be conducted which will exam the best 10 articles relevant to the purpose of
Research shows that half of the admitted patients in emergency centers experience complications several months, even years, after the initial injury (“Psychological Sequelae: Postconcussion, Frontal and Temporal Lobe Syndromes”. 2012.). In some cases, patients complain of periodic headaches for up to a year, depression, and comprehension issues. Rather than allowing for athletes to return to physical activity after two to three weeks, they need in-depth evaluations of their brains and tests ran to ensure their brain is functioning
In the united states over 170 million adults participate in physical activities, including sports which can have a greater impact on unorganized sports because most of the time there not properly trained and just go for what they know and injure themselves 1.6 to 3.8 million concussions occur in recreational activities annually. However, this vastly underestimates total concussions, as many individuals suffering from mild or moderate concussions do seek medical advice... Many of these activities are associated with an increased risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI). In the united States, an estimated 1.7 million people sustain a TBI annually, associated with 1.365 million emergency room visits and 275,000 hospitalizations annually with associated direct and indirect cost estimated to have been $60 billion in the United states in 2000, So concussions are not only taken a big toll on someone’s life but also their pockets.
Concussions in sports have become a very popular issue in the past century. Athletes are becoming bigger, faster, stronger, and more aggressive. With this, though, comes more injuries as a whole and injuries that are more dangerous as well. Parents, coaches, fans, and athletes have become more aware of how dangerous concussions can be and what effect they can have on an individual throughout the rest of their life. Many advancements and changes have been made in an attempt to keep athletes and players safer and more protected. Some individuals believe parents, coaches, and trainers are becoming overly protective and are ruining the entertainment of the game and the competitiveness of the players. Any sort of traumatic brain injury can have many effects on the individual; there are short-term, medium-term, and long-term consequences of concussions that can continue affecting the individual for fourteen years after he or she has suffered the head injury. Although many advancements have been made and preventing concussions has become a priority in the ‘sports-world,’ authority figures and athletes still ignore the symptoms of concussions to allow the athlete to continue to participate. However, in order to continue the entertainment that sporting events bring fans and the enjoyment that they bring to the participants, more precautions should be made to keep the players on the field and in good health.
Numerous athletes have been found to sustain long term health issues after head trauma or in some cases have lost their lives due to the damage from an injury. Many different people play a role in the athlete’s decision to return to play, therefore resulting in these different parties potentially being liable for any future injuries if the athlete does not take the required amount of time off. Because of insufficient healing time, when concussion victims age, there is a noticeable deterioration in their health and overall ease of movement. As their lives go on, the symptoms they first experienced when they got the concussion seem minimal, because the effects may be worsening as the years pass. If a person continues to play in sports that requires constant physical contact even after receiving multiple concussions, or even just a single severe one, they will most likely experience life-long effects . Some of the effects that may occur long term post-concussion may include daily migraines, mild to severe memory loss and the inability to focus or attain information. These risks can have a major effect on one’s standard of living as they are lacking crucial ability to function in society. One of the leading Canadian cases of insufficient resting time resulting in serious injury
Today injuries in sports is a common topic. A sprained ankle, broken finger, bruised knee are all afflictions commonly known to the players and spectators; however, not all are informed about the severity of head trauma. In sports, there are concussive incidents: hits to the head causing the brain to violently shake damaging brain cells to the point where they can no longer be used. In the game of soccer this can occur when colliding with another player or direct contact to the head. Recovery for athletes with concussions is generally quick, but in some scenarios symptoms
Perhaps one of the least understood injuries is a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), otherwise known as a concussion. Over 1,000,000 concussions occur the United States every year (Majerske et al., 2008), and can be caused by any blow to the head. It is likely that many concussions do not go diagnosed. 300,000 of these concussion have been contributed to sports related injury (Majerske et al., 2008), making the study of sports related concussions in athletes the most important and easiest subjects to study.
Common causes include sports injuries, bicycle accidents, car accidents, and falls, the latter two being the most frequent causes among adults.[3] In addition to a blow to the head, concussion may be caused by acceleration forces without a direct impact, and on the battlefield, MTBI is a potential consequence of nearby explosions.[4] It is not clear exactly what damage is done and how the symptoms are caused, but stretching of axons and changes in ion
Concussions are a form of brain injury that is medically defined as a condition that modifies the way in which an individual’s brain essentially functions as a result of significant trauma to the head or body (Mayo Clinic, 2016). While most people believe that concussions can only be sustained by receiving a direct blow to the head itself, concussions can actually develop from any forceful acceleration to either the head or the body as long as the impact is hard enough (Edwards & Bodle, 2014). The amount of energy that is generated by such dynamic contact basically causes the brain to jolt back and forth against the skull surrounding it, thereby damaging the neurological structure almost instantaneously. However, most concussions tend to lean more to the milder side of the brain injury spectrum and, in most cases, the
This problem is very important for people to understand in order to protect athletes and military personnel. The health of a persons brain is linked to this problem and people need to be aware of the damage constant hits to the head can cause. The parents of young athletes who are unaware of these things need to be educated so they can try to prevent chronic traumatic encephalopathy as best as possible. This is something that needs to be well know especially because the only real treatment of this is prevention of these constant head injuries. Once the damage has been done, it is irreversible. This is unlike that of a concussion because a concussion is reversible through the proper care and treatment. The symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Concussions, classified as a mild traumatic brain injury, are a growing problem in the United States. Research is being done to determine immediate, short-term, and long-term effects as well as the most effective way to treat concussions and the best way to prevent them. The general population is learning more about concussions as more information becomes available. This is especially important because the spread of knowledge of concussions is crucial in preventing and treating concussions. It is important that people
I imagine each and every single one of you can think of a friend or family member or even maybe you have suffered for any type head injury.
This “involves either the head striking a hard surface or a rapidly moving object striking the head. The dura mater remains intact and brain tissues are not exposed to the environment”(McCance & Huether, 2014, p. 582). Closed (blunt) trauma can be classified as primary (injury results from the initial anatomical and physiological insult usually direct trauma to the head) and secondary (results from hypotension, hypoxia, acidosis, edema, or factors that can secondarily damage brain tissue)(Rangel-Castilla, 2014, p. 2). It can also cause mild concussion (characterized by immediate but transitory clinical manifestations) and classic cerebral concussion (any loss consciousness accompanied by retrograde and anterograde amnesia)(McCance & Huether, 2014, p. 587). The degrees of concussions
It is also unclear if it is the brain injury itself that causes the result and if it is the same for healthy people.