Sports Medicine Concussion

What test is developed to help non-medically trained individuals identify the signs and symptoms of potential sport-related concussions?

The Concussion Recognition Tool 5 (CRT5) is designed for use by non-medically trained people to help recognize possible sport-related concussions

When an athlete is unconscious, are head and neck injuries always assumed?

Yes, when an athlete is unconscious, a head and neck (cervical spine) injury is always assumed until proven otherwise

Is cerebrospinal fluid contained between the dura mater and arachnoid and acts as a cushion, helping to diminish the transmission of shocking forces?

No, cerebrospinal fluid is located in the subarachnoid space between the arachnoid and pia mater, where it cushions the brain and spinal cord.

An athlete has been hit in the head, briefly lost consciousness, and was removed from the game. When can the athlete return to physical activity?

When a physician clears them to return to play

Do skull fractures require immediate medical attention.

Yes, suspected skull fractures always require immediate medical evaluation in an emergency setting

If an athlete shows any sign of a concussion, what should occur:

The athlete should be immediately removed from play, monitored, and referred for medical evaluation; they should not return to sport until cleared by a healthcare professional.

Raccoon eyes" a common sign for a nasal fracture?

No

Following a cerebral injury, an athlete may return to competition even if he or she has a slight headache, as long as other neurological and vasomotor functions are normal.

False

What term describes the inability of an athlete to remember events after an injury has occurred?

Amnesia

Is naming the months of the year in reverse order commonly used as an on-the-field cognitive test?

Yes, reciting the months of the year or digits in reverse order is commonly used as a quick on-field cognitive test after a head injury.

When evaluating an unconscious athlete, what steps should be taken?

1. Assume a cervical spine and serious head injury.

2. Assess airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs) and stabilize the head and neck.

3. Call emergency medical services and avoid moving the athlete until properly immobilized.

Is a cerebral contusion a focal injury that commonly occurs as a result of the head striking the floor?

Yes

What can occur to an athlete who sustained a concussion previously returns to play prior to resolution of the symptoms and then receives another head injury?

Second Impact Syndrome

In second impact syndrome, an athlete may receive a minor blow to the head, appear stunned, and then collapse in 15 seconds.

True

What tests are used to test coordination following a head injury?

Coordination is commonly tested using finger-to-nose, heel-to-toe walking (tandem gait), and balance tests such as single-leg or tandem stance

In the case of skull fractures, is it not the skull fracture itself that causes the most serious problem but complications that stem from intracranial bleeding, bone fragments embedded in the brain, and infection.

True

Can a blow to the head injure the brain either at the point of contact or on the opposite side?

Yes, a blow to the head can cause a coup injury at the impact site and a contrecoup injury on the opposite side due to the brain moving within the skull

Concussion

A type of mild traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body that disrupts normal brain function, usually without structural damage visible on standard imaging

Contrecoup Injury

A brain damage that occurs on the side of the brain opposite the site of impact because the brain rebounds inside the skull

Coup Injury

A brain damage that occurs directly under the site where the head is struck.

Diplopia

the medical term for double vision, where a person sees two images of a single object.

Epidural Hematoma

A bleeding between the inner surface of the skull and the outer layer of the meninges (dura mater), often from an arterial tear, causing a rapidly expanding blood clot.

Post Concussion Syndrome

A condition in which concussion symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating persist for weeks or months after the initial injury.

Second Impact Syndrome

A rapid, often fatal brain swelling that occurs when a second head injury happens before full recovery from an earlier concussion.

Subdural Hematoma

A bleeding between the dura mater and the arachnoid layer of the meninges, usually from torn veins, which can cause slow or rapid pressure on the brain.