Mild traumatic brain injuries are g...

Mild traumatic brain injuries are general in high school and collegiate sports. Neuropsychologic impairment has been noted in players who have had multiple concussions. Field and associates compared preconcussion and postconcussion neuropsychologic evaluations to determine neurocognitive restoration patterns in high school and body athletes.

Athletes at several corporations and high schools participated in the investigation Concussions were defined and graded according to the American Academy of Neurology Practice Parameter. Concussions were graded according to associated los of consciousness and the amount of time required for mental status changes to explain A battery of neuropsychologic examples and the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale, defining 20 symptoms associated with concussion, were administered at baseline. Postconcussion evaluation assessed symptoms and markers of injury and included serial neuropsychologic testing at 24 hours after injury and again in succession days 3, 5, and 7 Matched superintendence subjects who did not have a concussion during the studious mood also were followed.

in the greatest degree concussions were mild. College athletes had a higher rate of los of consciousness than high sect athletes. At 24 hours after injury, memory differences between athletes with concussions and regulate subjects were significant. Longer memory impairment was noted in injured high drill athletes than in injured association athletes. Postconcussion symptoms lasted longer in high denomination athletes.

The authors close that high school athletes showed slower neuropsychologic recruiting from sports-related concussions compared with community athletes. Hypotheses to explain this difference include more postponeed cerebral swelling with greater risk of ischemia in younger athletes and increased sensitivity to glutamate-mediated excitotoxic brain injury in les mature brains. More conservative treatment and thorough evaluation are praiseed before injured high school athletes are allowed to get back to sports participation.

Field M et al. Does age play a part in recovery from sports-related concussion? A comparison of high denomination and collegiate athletes. J Pediatr May 2003;142:546-53

COPYRIGHT 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group