Barely a week passes without mention of new statistics on concussion. Most recently, concussion related to youth sports injuries has received front page billing. Historically the widely accepted incidence of sports related concussion in the United States was 300,000 each year. Estimates have recently been updated to reflect 1.6-3.8 million concussions in the United States on an annual basis. The disparity between the old and new estimates is clearly striking and what becomes apparent is the frequently underreported and/or undiagnosed scenario of this serious condition.
Concussion is a brain injury and the result of not recognizing that a person has sustained a concussion can be devastating. Other important aspects of concussion include:
- Concussions can occur without loss of consciousness – in fact most of them do
- Concussions can not be seen on an MRI
- Concussions can occur in any sport
- Recognition and proper management of concussions when they first occur can help prevent further injury (permanent brain damage) or DEATH
- High school athletes are more vulnerable to concussions than older athletes and may take longer to recover
- High school athletes are three times more likely to experience a second concussion if concussed once during a season
- More than 5% of high school athletes are concussed each year from collision and contact sports.
- Concussions are also frequent in motor vehicle accidents and in work related injurie
Dr. Dean Karahalios, a neurosurgeon at NorthShore University HealthSystem, urged his neurosurgical, physiatry and neurological colleagues over two years ago to develop a robust knowledge base on concussion and thereby provide athletes and others access to technology and professional resources focused on the identification and treatment of concussions. Please email info@DKNeuro.com with any questions regarding concussion.