Sports & Occupational Medicine \ Head Injuries

Question 1

Poor coordination, decreased attention span, emotional lability, retrograde amnesia, or anterograde amnesia can be signs of what head injury?

Answer 1

Concussion

Question 2

Athletes with a concussion may complain of what symptoms after the initial injury?

Answer 2

• Headache
• dizziness
• nausea
• photophobia
• phonophobia
• decreased concentration
• sleep disturbance
• mpaired academic perfromance

Question 3

The initial assessment of a sports head injury involves what steps on the field?

Answer 3

• Check ABCs
• palpate head and neck to rule out head or cervical spine injury

Question 4

Once the on-field assessment is complete, what other assessment is needed in a head injury?

Answer 4

• How injury occurred
• estimation of force of impact
• duration of symptoms
• any previous concussions
• neurological assessment
• cognitive evaluation

Question 5

Assessment of cognitive function at baseline and after a concussion resolves can be done with what testing?

Answer 5

• Neuropsychological testing with measures of
  
  • concentration
  • motor dexterity
  • information processing
  • visual and verbal memory
  • executive function
  • brain stem function

Question 6

What are the stages in activity for return to play?

Answer 6

Light aerobic exercise → moderate aerobic exercise → sport-specific drills —> full contact activity —> game play

Question 7

What are the universally accepted guidelines about return to play after concussion?

Answer 7

There is no single guideline for making this decision, but they should not return until asymptomatic at rest or with any exertional maneuvers and should be on no medication that would minimize the signs or symptoms of concussion.

Question 8

What assessment tool is indicated to help in the assessment of concussion, and includes symptom scale, mental status tests, instructions on neurologic screening, and guidelines for return to play?

Answer 8

Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT2)

Question 9

What should you do with a contaminated tooth after avulsion during sports-related trauma in a conscious athlete?

Answer 9

• gently rinse then either
  
  • reinsert
  • place in buccal sulcus or place in milk
  • immediate referral to dentist