Acta Chir Orthop Traumatol Cech. 2017; 84(4):247-253 | DOI: 10.55095/achot2017/039

Concussion in Sports - What Trauma/Orthopedic Surgeons Need to Know!Current concepts review

A. GÄNSSLEN1,*, T. NEUBAUER2, W. KRUTSCH3
1 Trauma Department, Klinikum Wolfsburg, Wolfsburg, Germany; Initiative "Schütz Deinen Kopf" der ZNS Hannelore Kohl Stiftung
2 Trauma Department, Landesklinikum Horn, Horn, Germany
3 Department of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Centre Regensburg, FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Regensburg, Germany; Initiative "Schütz Deinen Kopf" der ZNS Hannelore Kohl Stiftung

Concussion in sport is often underdiagnosed with the potential risk of long-term sequelae. This article presents the mechanisms, the underlying pathophysiology and typical primary signs and symptoms. The recognition and resulting medical measures including the present recommendations and decisions on return to play are described.
The majority of patients with concussion present with clinical and cognitive symptoms only for short time intervals. As a rule a complete subjective recovery is observed within a few hours or days. Although neurocognitive impairments can persist in individual cases, they also show a good tendency to heal. Thus, after 1 year nearly all patients no longer have any relevant disorders.
In a few cases long-term disturbances can occur in the presence of certain risk factors and/or after repetitive concussion. Unspecific symptoms and some cognitive impairments are the main reported problems; however, there is also a potential but individually unpredictable risk of developing neurodegenerative alterations and diseases.

Published: August 1, 2017  Show citation

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GÄNSSLEN A, NEUBAUER T, KRUTSCH W. Concussion in Sports - What Trauma/Orthopedic Surgeons Need to Know! Acta Chir Orthop Traumatol Cech. 2017;84(4):247-253. doi: 10.55095/achot2017/039. PubMed PMID: 28933327.
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