Concussion

Alternate Names : Closed Head Injury, Postconcussive Syndrome

What are the treatments for the injury?

A person with a Grade 1 concussion should be checked at the time of the head injury, and then every 5 minutes until the symptoms go away. If the symptoms disappear in 15 minutes or less, the person can return to normal activity, including sports.

A person with a Grade 2 concussion should be examined by a healthcare provider and should avoid sports for a week.

When a person loses consciousness for any length of time following a concussion, he or she has a Grade 3 concussion. The individual should be immediately transported with a neck brace to a hospital for treatment.

What are the side effects of the treatments?

Most people fully recover from concussions without side effects.

What happens after treatment for the injury?

A person with a Grade 1 concussion can return to normal activity, including sports, when the symptoms go away. An individual with a Grade 2 concussion should refrain from sports for one week. If the person is still symptom free after one week, he or she may return to sports activities.

A person with a Grade 3 concussion should follow the recommendations of the healthcare professional regarding activity. The person's return to sports will depend on how long he or she was unconscious, and how long it took for the symptoms to go away. An individual with repeated concussions should be carefully evaluated before returning to sports activities.

Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the healthcare provider.