There are very few British guidelines but quite a few US ones. Most will
recommend at least one week off sports for your guy. The main risks are:
1) "second impact syndrome": diffuse cerebral swelling with delayed
catastrophic deterioration if he suffers a second head injury in the near
future;
compounded by
2) increased risk of accident due to transient occult cognitive impairment
after head injury.
A good summary is:
Collins MW. Lovell MR. Mckeag DB. Current issues in managing sports-related
concussion. JAMA. 282(24):2283-5, 1999 Dec 22-29.
This can be found at:
http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v282n24/rfull/jct90029.html
PDF:
http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v282n24/rpdf/jct90029.pdf
Chris Kirke
----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2001 11:32 AM
Subject: head injury and sports
> An opinion from the list, based on an apparently true incident (for those
who watch motorcycle racing on TV). I cannot find guidelines for this type
of incident. In rugby there are clear guidelines as to what to do following
a player being KO'd (and no it does not depend on whether they play front
row!, but other sports are not apparently so clear cut.
>
> Motorcycle racer comes off at approximately 80 mph, does not make contact
with barrier or other bike but hits pretty hard. Unconcious on scene for
approx 3 mins. Slightly confused for 5 mins after this then apparently fine.
This is at roughly 11am.
>
> Assuming normal neurological examination and no suggestion of external
skull/scalp injury then how long should he be prevented from racing. NB: He
has a championship race that pm at 1500.
>
> Simon
>
>
> Simon Carley
> SpR in Emergency Medicine
> Manchester
> [log in to unmask]
> http://www.bestbets.org
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