Concussion Flashcards
what level of TBI would a concussion be classified as?
mild TBI
explain the pathophysiology of a concussion
this is a metabolic brain injury
↑ ENERGY DEMAND + ↓ BLOOD SUPPLY → METABOLIC CRISIS
list the clinical subtypes of concussion
- Cognitive/Fatigue
- Ocular
- Vestibular
- Anxiety/Mood
- Cervical
- Post Traumatic Migraine
describe the symptoms of the Cognitive/Fatigue Subtype
most often seen EARLY ON followinc concussion
- Fatigue
- HA with cognitive and physical activity
- “end of day” symptoms
- often see sleep distrubances
exam findings for Cognitive/Fatigue subtype
- Vestibular/Ocular screening
- normal
- Neurocognitive Test Results
- mild, but global/widespread, deficits across all composites
- deficits with retrieval, encoding intact
treatment for the cognitive/fatigue subtype
- incorporate physical/cognitive breaks throughout the day
- NO NAPS
- pharmacological options available if persistent
- neurostimulants
- sleep aide
- Cog therapy → if symptoms linger more than a few months
- Monitored, structured exercise progression
risk factors for the Ocular/Visual Subtypes
personal/family history of ocular dysfunction
symptoms for the Ocular/Visual Subtypes
- Frontal HA driven by visual work
- Difficulties w/visually-based classes, assignments, or activities
- Pressure behind eyes
- Visual “focus” issues
- Blurry vision
- Double vision
exam findings for the Ocular/Visual Subtypes
- Vision/Oculomotor Exam
- +Smooth Pursuit, Saccades
- Convergence difficulties
- insufficiency
- spasms/excess
- Accommodative insufficiency
- Binocular visual deficits
- Strabismus
- Tropias
- Phorias
- Neurocognitive Test Results
- deficits in reaction time
- deficits w/visual memory (encoding rather than retrieval)
what is a strabismus?
a misalignment of the eyes or dysconjugate gaze at rest
what is a topia?
overt deviation of the eye
tend to be present at all time
- exo → outward (laterally)
- eso → inward (medially)
- hyper → upward
- hypo → downward
what is phoria?
ocular deviation occurs when dissociation occurs
tend to show up as the eyes get tired
describe what occurs if strabismus is severe or subtle
- Severe
- diplopia
- head tilt (vertical misalignment)
- noticeable eye turn
- Subtle
- difficulty maintaining focus
- cosmetically normal
- ocular soreness
- HA
- mental dullness
what is the difference between convergence and divergence?
- convergence → ability of eyes to turn inward to focus on a near target
- divergence → ability of eyes to move outwards to focus on a further target
what are the general symptoms of vergence dysfunction?
- Asthenopia when reading
- Frontal HA
- Intermittent/Constant double vision
- Squints/closes one eye
- Letters appear to float/move on the page
list some common vergence problems
- Convergence insufficiency
- Convergence excess
- Convergence spasm
describe accommodative dysfunction
reduction in ability to focus at near, may prematurely need reading glasses or bifocals
accommodative spasm (over focusing at near)
this is a struggle to coordinate accommodation and vergence, leading to difficulty in spatial awareness
accommodative dysfuction will cause trouble with ________
spatial awareness
computers/phones/near work
treatment of Ocular/Visual Subtype
- Ocular Motor Training
- Physical Exertion → generally well tolerated
risk factors for vestibular subtype
PMHx of car sickness/motion sensitivity, migraine, anxiety