Due to stretching forces placed on individual nerve cells
Pathology distributed throughout brain
Types
Concussion
Diffuse Axonal Injury (Moderate to Severe)
2. β Due to stretching forces placed on individual nerve cells
β Pathology distributed throughout brain
β Types
β Concussion
β Diffuse Axonal Injury (Moderate to Severe)
Diffuse Brain Injury
3. β Accidental Falls
β Vehicular accidents
β Child Abuse
β Assaults
β Gunshots
β Violent shaking of a child
β Sports related injuries
Causes
4. β Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is the predominant
mechanism of injury in 40% to 50% of traumatic brain
injuries (TBIs) requiring hospital admission in the United
States.
β A component of DAI is believed to be present in all motor
vehicle crashes (MVCs) where the patient has lost
consciousness
β Widespread axonal damage occurring after a mild,
moderate, or severe TBI
β Process takes approximately 12-24 hours
β One of the major causes of unconsciousness and
persistent vegetative state after head trauma
Diffuse Axonal Injury
5. β Due to acceleration/deceleration to whtie matter +
hypoxia
β Significant mechanical disruption of nerve cells
β Cerebral hemispheres and brainstem
β High mortality rate
Diffuse Axonal Injury
6. β Mostly microscopic damage, and it is often not visible on
imaging studies
β The main mechanical force that causes DAI is rotational
acceleration of the brain, resulting in unrestricted head
movement
β Rotational acceleration produces shearing and tensile
forces, and axons can be pulled apart at the microscopic
level
β Microscopic evaluation of the brain tissue often shows
numerous swollen and disconnected axons
β Rapid stretching of axons is thought to damage the
axonal cytoskeleton and, therefore, disrupt normal
neuron function
Diffuse Axonal Injury:Pathological
feature
7. β Varies from mild to profound
β May be permanent or temporary
β Symptoms may appear immediately or over weeks,
months, years
β Diffuse axonal injury (DAI)
β Clinical signs:
β β LOC
β β ICP
β Decerebration or decortication
β Global cerebral edema
Diffuse Axonal Injury: Clinical
features
9. β Defined as the result of the forceful motion of the head
causing a brief change in mental status for less than 30
minutes.
Concussion
10. β Concussion may be caused either by a direct blow to the
head, face, neck or elsewhere on the body with an ββimpulsiveββ
force transmitted to the head.
β Concussion typically results in the rapid onset of short- lived
impairment of neurologic function that resolves spontaneously.
However in some cases symptoms and signs may evolve over
a number of minutes to hours.
β Concussion may result in neuropathological changes but the
acute clinical symptoms largely reο¬ect a functional disturbance
rather than a structural injury and as such, no abnormality is
seen on standard structural neuroimaging studies.
β Concussion results in a graded set of clinical symptoms that
may or may not involve loss of consciousness. Resolution of
the clinical and cognitive symptoms typically follows a
sequential course. However it is important to note that in
some cases, post-concussive symptoms may be prolonged.
Concussion
11. β Level of consciousness
β Variable period of unconsciousness or confusion
β Followed by return to normal consciousness
β Retrograde short-term amnesia
β May repeat questions over and over
β Associated symptoms
β Dizziness, headache, ringing in ears, and/or nausea
Concussion
Head Trauma -
12. β No structural injury to brain
β Mild to moderate form of Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)
β Nerve dysfunction without anatomic damage
β In a concussion, certain chemical levels are altered at the
cellular level
β Blood supply to the brain decreases
β The brainβs demand for glucose increases
β Mismatch in fuel supply and demand
β Neuronal tissue vulnerability
β Brain needs time to recover
Concussion: Pathophysiology
13. Classification/Grading Guides
Guideline Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3
Cantu 1. No LOC
2. Posttraumatic amnesia <30
min
1. LOC > 5 min
OR
2. Posttraumatic amnesia
> 30 min
1. LOC > 5 min
OR
2. Posttraumatic
amnesia >24Λ
Colorado 1. Confusion w/out amnesia
2. No LOC
1. Confusion w/ amnesia
2. No LOC
1. LOC
(of any duration)
AAN 1. Transient confusion
2. No LOC
3. Concussion syx, ms change
resolve w/in 5 min
1. Transient confusion
2. No LOC
3. Concussion syx, ms
change >15 min
1. LOC
(brief or prolonged)
Cantu
(Revised)
1. No LOC
OR
2. Posttraumatic amnesia
signs/syx < 30 min
1. LOC < 1 min
OR
2. Posttraumatic amnesia
>30 min, <24Λ
1. LOC > 1min
OR
2. Posttraumatic
amnesia >24Λ
OR
3. Post concussion
signs/syx > 7d
14. β Neurological examination and assigning a GCS Score.
β Neuroimaging helps in determining the diagnosis and
prognosis and proposed treatment
β Neuropsychological assessment
Diagnosis
15. β Computed tomography (CT)
β Rarely detected on CT ( 20% of DAI lesions are
hemorrhagic)
β Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
β Can show more details than CT as detecting injury
characteristics such as diffuse axonal injury
β However, MRI is not used in the emergency setting
β X-rays:
β Not much role
β Angiography:
β May be used to detect blood vessel pathology.
β Electroencephalography and transcranial doppler may
also be used.
Investigations
16. β ABCD
β Pharmacotherapy
β Prolonged symptoms (sleep disturbance, anxiety)
β Modify underlying pathophysiology
β Upon return to play should not be on medication that
could mask symptoms
β Antidepressants?
β Physical Rest
β No training, playing, exercise, weights
β Beware of exertion with activities of daily living
β Cognitive Rest
β No television, extensive reading, video games?
β Caution re: daytime sleep
Management
17. β Mild cases: Gradual resolution within 7-10 days
β Gradual return to work and social activities that does
not result in significant exacerbation of symptoms
Management
19. β Majority (80-90%) resolve in short (7-10 day) period
β May take longer in children and adolescents
Recovery
20. β Alzheimer's Disease: recent research suggests correlation
between head injury in early adulthood and AD later in life
β Parkinson's Disease: rare, but may occur
β Dementia Pugilistica: also known as chronic traumatic
encephalopathy, usually acquired from repetitive blows to the
head (boxers)
β Post-traumatic Dementia: long term memory problems,
caused by single, severe traumatic brain injury resulting in a
coma
Long Term Effects
21. β’ In the car...
o Wear seatbelt
o Head rest in proper position
o Children under the age of 13 should ride in the back seat
β’ Activities
o Wear a helmet
β’ Sports
o Wear protective gear
Prevention
22. β Traumatic injuries affect more patients than all other
neurological conditions COMBINED
β At present, the best treatment is PREVENTION
Conclusion
23. 1.6 to 2.3 million sports concussions per year
Center for Disease Control 2006