{"id":5485,"date":"2025-12-09T15:04:06","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T20:04:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=5485"},"modified":"2025-12-09T23:17:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T04:17:21","slug":"concussion-diagnosis-and-management","status":"web-only","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/chapter\/concussion-diagnosis-and-management\/","title":{"raw":"11p14  Concussion Diagnosis and Management","rendered":"11p14  Concussion Diagnosis and Management"},"content":{"raw":"<h1><strong>Assessment Procedures<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Medical history<\/strong>:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Important to determine possible injury context (sports, fall, etc.).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>SCAT (Sport Concussion Assessment Tool)<\/strong>:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>A standardized checklist used in athletics.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Includes questions on symptoms such as:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Headache, dizziness, nausea.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Confusion, irritability, anxiety.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Fatigue, amnesia.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Helps evaluate the severity of symptoms.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h1><strong>Neurologic Exam<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Includes assessment of:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Vision, hearing.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Strength and sensation.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Balance and coordination.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Reflexes.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Memory and concentration (cognitive testing).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h1><strong>When to Hospitalize<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Signs indicating\u00a0<strong>serious injury<\/strong>:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Severe headache, seizures, repeated vomiting.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>These require immediate imaging and hospitalization.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Monitoring:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Keep the patient overnight if symptoms are severe.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Watch for\u00a0<strong>increasing intracranial pressure<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Treatment is directed at preventing secondary injury from swelling or pressure.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h1><strong>Mild Concussion<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>No\u00a0<strong>loss of consciousness<\/strong>\u00a0or altered awareness.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Symptoms last\u00a0<strong>2\u20133 days<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Full recovery expected.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Return-to-play protocol<\/strong>:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Gradual return after symptoms resolve.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Re-emergence of symptoms leads to sidelining and further rest.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Baseline testing in athletes helps monitor injury severity.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><strong>Post-Concussion Protocol<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Rest initially.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Gradual reintegration into activity.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Continued symptom monitoring.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>If symptoms recur, pause activity again.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h1><strong>Severe or Prolonged Concussion<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Classic concussion<\/strong>\u00a0often involves\u00a0<strong>temporary loss of consciousness<\/strong>\u00a0(minutes to hours).<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Longer symptoms<\/strong>:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Weeks to months or longer.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Called\u00a0<strong>post-concussion syndrome<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Symptoms include:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Insomnia, depression, sensitivity to noise and light.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Forgetfulness, concentration issues.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Avoidance of screens and stress.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h1><strong>Management<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Full rest<\/strong>\u00a0of the brain.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Avoiding alcohol, screens, and stressful stimuli.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Usually improves over time; some cases take\u00a0<strong>months<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0<strong>over a year<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h1><strong>Summary<\/strong><\/h1>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Concussion diagnosis is supported by symptom assessment and baseline tests.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Proper management involves\u00a0<strong>initial rest<\/strong>\u00a0and a\u00a0<strong>gradual return to activity<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Post-concussion syndrome can be\u00a0<strong>long-lasting<\/strong>, requiring patience and supportive care.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","rendered":"<h1><strong>Assessment Procedures<\/strong><\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Medical history<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Important to determine possible injury context (sports, fall, etc.).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>SCAT (Sport Concussion Assessment Tool)<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>A standardized checklist used in athletics.<\/li>\n<li>Includes questions on symptoms such as:\n<ul>\n<li>Headache, dizziness, nausea.<\/li>\n<li>Confusion, irritability, anxiety.<\/li>\n<li>Fatigue, amnesia.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Helps evaluate the severity of symptoms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1><strong>Neurologic Exam<\/strong><\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li>Includes assessment of:\n<ul>\n<li>Vision, hearing.<\/li>\n<li>Strength and sensation.<\/li>\n<li>Balance and coordination.<\/li>\n<li>Reflexes.<\/li>\n<li>Memory and concentration (cognitive testing).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1><strong>When to Hospitalize<\/strong><\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li>Signs indicating\u00a0<strong>serious injury<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Severe headache, seizures, repeated vomiting.<\/li>\n<li>These require immediate imaging and hospitalization.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Monitoring:\n<ul>\n<li>Keep the patient overnight if symptoms are severe.<\/li>\n<li>Watch for\u00a0<strong>increasing intracranial pressure<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Treatment is directed at preventing secondary injury from swelling or pressure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1><strong>Mild Concussion<\/strong><\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li>No\u00a0<strong>loss of consciousness<\/strong>\u00a0or altered awareness.<\/li>\n<li>Symptoms last\u00a0<strong>2\u20133 days<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Full recovery expected.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Return-to-play protocol<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Gradual return after symptoms resolve.<\/li>\n<li>Re-emergence of symptoms leads to sidelining and further rest.<\/li>\n<li>Baseline testing in athletes helps monitor injury severity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Post-Concussion Protocol<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Rest initially.<\/li>\n<li>Gradual reintegration into activity.<\/li>\n<li>Continued symptom monitoring.<\/li>\n<li>If symptoms recur, pause activity again.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1><strong>Severe or Prolonged Concussion<\/strong><\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Classic concussion<\/strong>\u00a0often involves\u00a0<strong>temporary loss of consciousness<\/strong>\u00a0(minutes to hours).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Longer symptoms<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Weeks to months or longer.<\/li>\n<li>Called\u00a0<strong>post-concussion syndrome<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Symptoms include:\n<ul>\n<li>Insomnia, depression, sensitivity to noise and light.<\/li>\n<li>Forgetfulness, concentration issues.<\/li>\n<li>Avoidance of screens and stress.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1><strong>Management<\/strong><\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Full rest<\/strong>\u00a0of the brain.<\/li>\n<li>Avoiding alcohol, screens, and stressful stimuli.<\/li>\n<li>Usually improves over time; some cases take\u00a0<strong>months<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0<strong>over a year<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1><strong>Summary<\/strong><\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li>Concussion diagnosis is supported by symptom assessment and baseline tests.<\/li>\n<li>Proper management involves\u00a0<strong>initial rest<\/strong>\u00a0and a\u00a0<strong>gradual return to activity<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Post-concussion syndrome can be\u00a0<strong>long-lasting<\/strong>, requiring patience and supportive care.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"author":1370,"menu_order":20,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":["zoe-soon"],"pb_section_license":"cc-by-nc-sa"},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[60],"license":[57],"class_list":["post-5485","chapter","type-chapter","status-web-only","hentry","contributor-zoe-soon","license-cc-by-nc-sa"],"part":76,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/5485","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1370"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/5485\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5488,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/5485\/revisions\/5488"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/76"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/5485\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5485"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=5485"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=5485"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/pathophysiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=5485"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}