Concussions

Concussion

trauma induced alteration in mental status

Loss of consciousness

fewer than 10% of concussions present with this condition at the time of injury

Retrograde amnesia

forgetting events from before the episode

Anterograde amnesia

forgetting events after the episode

signs

things you can visibly note that are affecting the patient

symptoms

things that you may not see that are self-reported by the patient

PEARL

(pupils equal and reactive to light)

acronym used when assessing for neurological functioning of the eye

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

progressive degenerative neurological disease that affects people with a history of head trauma

Second Impact Syndrome (SIS)

rapid swelling of the brain that may happen when a second concussion occurs before the first has healed

Post Concussion Syndrome (PCS)

condition that may occur following a concussion that presents with prolonged symptoms

Invisible injury

Concussions are called this because they often do not show up on scans

7-10 days

The amount of time it takes for 90% of people to recover from a concussion

Reasons why young athletes get concussions more easily

Weak body/neck; poor form; smaller brains; lack of experience

RTP

Return To Play protocol

Biopsy

The only way to diagnose CTE

Tau

The name of the protein deposited in the brain from CTE

Repetitive brain trauma

The believed cause of CTE

Subconcussive hit

A hit to the head causing an effect on the brain but not severe enough to cause a concussion