What Are Concussions?

Concussions are head-trauma-induced alterations in mental status that may or may not involve loss of consciousness; however, only 10% of sports-related concussions involve loss of consciousness. Generally, concussion symptoms range from a headache and blurred vision to nausea and personality changes. More than 300,000 sports-related concussions occur each year. Recent estimates are that 10 percent of all high school kids who engage in contact sports will sustain a concussion each year. Almost two thirds of those concussions occur in football.

Concussion Symptoms and Signs

• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Dizziness
• Loss of balance
• Confusion
• Memory loss (called amnesia)
• Ringing ears
• Difficulty concentrating
• Nausea
• Slow to answer questions
• Personality changes
• Aversion to bright lights and loud sounds

Diagnosis of a Concussion

The diagnosis of a concussion can be hard because no X-ray or blood test can tell us a concussion has occurred, especially if concussion symptoms aren’t present. A health care professional will need to get a lot of information either from you or from other people who were there when the blow to the head occurred. This is not always easy, especially if you’re confused or have lost your memory of the injury. The health care professional will also do a thorough physical exam, testing your strength, sensation, balance, reflexes and memory.

Using Computed Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for Diagnosis

Sometimes these tests are ordered to rule out more serious types of brain injuries, such as bleeding into the brain, but in the vast majority of sports concussions, these tests are normal.

Other Tests That Help With a Diagnosis

While no test is 100 percent accurate, many sports medicine doctors and neuropsychologists have begun using computer based neuropsychological testing to uncover the impairments left by a concussion. In essence, it is like doing a physical exam on the brain, testing many different aspects of brain function. This test has proven to be a more accurate assessment of a player's recovery from a concussion than simply waiting for concussion symptoms to disappear.  Ideally, an athlete should have a baseline neuropsychological testing done before his/her season starts so that if a concussion occurs, there is a test to compare the results to. However, this test can still provide valuable information on how the brain is functioning even without a baseline study.

Emory Sports Medicine Center is the first provider in the city of Atlanta to routinely use computerized neuropsychological testing routinely in the evaluation and management of sports concussions. In addition, Dr. Ken Mautner has been trained in administering and interpreting ImPACT, the leading computer based neuropsychological testing program on the market.

Does medicine help with concussions?

The only proven treatment for a concussion is rest. This includes no sports until your doctor has cleared you to play. If you have a headache, you can usually take acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol). If you've sustained a concussion or have concussion symptoms, always ask your doctor before you take any medicine.

What should I watch out for?

You should call your doctor immediately if you have the following concussion symptoms or signs:

• Stiff neck
• Difficulty walking, speaking or using your arms
• Severe headache
• Repeated vomiting
• Confusion that gets worse
• Convulsions
• Unusual sleepiness

When can I return to sports?

You should never return to play if you’ve noticed concussion symptoms or signs, such as headache or dizziness. Even when your concussion symptoms clear, there is a step-wise progression that you must follow to make sure your symptoms do not return when you start playing sports again. In general, if you have a mild concussion, you may be allowed to return to play within a week, whereas some athletes have concussion symptoms that keep them out of play for several months. If you have had previous concussions, it may take longer before you are cleared to play. If neuropsychological testing is done, this test should return to normal or baseline before returning to play.

What are the risks of returning to play too early?

You could suffer a fatal event called "second impact syndrome." This occurs when a second blow to the head, even a minor one, makes your body lose control of blood flow to the brain. More commonly, returning too soon will put you at increased risk to suffer another or more concussions. Research has shown that multiple concussions have a cumulative effect and can cause permanent problems with memory, processing new information, and even your personality.

If you or someone you know has suffered a sports-related concussion, please contact our sports concussion specialist, Dr. Ken Mautner. You can leave a detailed message with his assistant, Janna Harris, ATC, at 404-778-6388, for a concussion symptoms test and evaluation and comprehensive treatment plan. We will get back to you promptly.