Head trauma accounts as one of most common injuries and the leading cause of mortality among pediatric population [CDC]. The seriousness of identifying clinically-important Traumatic Brain Injury (ci-TBI) following head trauma necessitates the use of Computerized Tomography (CT) scan. Currently, CT scans are used as reference standard of diagnostic modality. This imaging modality is highly sensitive in diagnosing intracranial injuries and classifying patients needing neurosurgical intervention. The neurological manifestations following head trauma range from loss of consciousness to life-threatening injuries. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) identifies Minor Head Injury (MHI) in otherwise healthy children more than 2 years of age as
Picture yourself with a brand new child, Holding it in your arms, comforting it, and putting it back to rest in its crib. Then you go about your day at home when all of a sudden the baby starts to cry very loud and doesn't stop. You start getting frustrated so you walk to where the baby is at and start to shake it so it will be quiet. After about ten seconds it calms down, and then falls asleep again. The baby doesn't cry again for a long time so you go back to check on it about two hours later. You notice the baby isn't moving, breathing, or showing any signs of life. What you don't know is that you just committed a murder called Shaken Baby Syndrome. Another term that is close to Shaken Baby Syndrome that I will be discussing in my paper is Abusive Head Trauma.
A. Background In recent years, there has been an increase in research investigating the long-term effects of repeated head trauma on the brain, especially in athletes. Following his discovery of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), Dr. Bennet Omalu inspired a movement of research aimed at establishing better safety standards and protocols in football. It was not until 2002 that the initial connection between repetitive head trauma, such as concussions, and brain injury was suspected (Ott, 2015). As common as concussions were during the late 1970s and 1980s, they were often swept under the rug, as they were seen as insignificant injuries.
Did you know, that someone suffers from a brain injury every 21 seconds (Haas)? Children get concussions all the time, and most of the time they go unnoticed. The majority of concussions happen when one is playing a sport such as football, hockey, or lacrosse. Many famous athletes have had their careers, even their lives cut short due to concussions. Brain damage and death can result from serial concussions (Schafer). When one suffers from a concussion, one’s brain needs time to recover physically and mentally. Between 2002 and 2006, statistics showed that 52,000 people died from concussions and about 275,000 were hospitalized (Fundukian). Everyone’s recovery process is different (“Injury and Pain Care”). Although concussions seem minor, they are very serious brain injuries that may result in severe damage to one’s brain.
Yates, Keith, et al. “Longitudinal Trajectories of Postconcussive Symptoms in Children With Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries and Their Relationship to Acute Clinical Status.” Pediatrics. 123.3 (2009) : 735-743. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
In this article, “Heads up: Concussion risks prompt more soccer players to visit the ER” written by the Associated Press, the researchers express concerns about head injuries, specifically concussions. This article is directed towards soccer players aged from 7 to 17 and their parents and teaches how the concussions happen and the possible ways to treat them. This study is based on 25 years of evidence and shows the growing popularity of soccer and how it is causing more and more concussions each year. Just behind football, soccer has the second highest number of injured players. Contrary to prior belief, soccer concussions do not happen from head balls, but from when two players’ heads collide when jumping to head the ball. Concussions can be avoided though. Sports medicine experts are saying that tensing neck muscles can help prevent
The year was 2006. There was a mid-season game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New Orleans Saints going on. Saints rookie running back Reggie Bush lined up in the backfield in preparation for the next play. The quarterback hiked the ball and threw a screen pass to Reggie; he did not see Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown coming right toward him. The hit left Reggie stunned and he quickly got up and fell right back down (normally a sign of a major concussion). But the problem is not just occurring with current NFL players. Former players have not received the protection they deserve either. Lets look at former four-time Super Bowl champion, Mike Webster, a nine time Pro-Bowler. Mike played center for the Pittsburg Steelers.
Athletes should sit out longer after having a concussion. Once you get a concussion, you are more likely to endure a second one. Serious trauma or damage to the brain can occur if you are not careful. You are more likely to get a second concussion and cause more damage than you have already caused. (article 2)
The majority of teens who had encounter a concussion are due to sports. A concussion is a pathophysiological process that impacts the brain, typically caused by a trauma to the brain. Concussions are mainly caused by bumps, falls which makes the head move rapidly back and forth, or by a jolt. The brain is a 3 pound organ floating inside the skull. It’s surrounded by a cerebrospinal fluid, which shocks when its impacted. When the brains starts to move rapidly inside the skull, a concussion has taken place. One common cause is a direct hit to the head. The force makes the brain hit the inside of the skull. When the brain starts to slow down, it hits the other side of the inner skull. The other common scenario is a rotational concussion. This happens when the brain rotates from one side to another. As a result, the brain tissues are strained and sheared. In both cases, fragile neural pathways can be damaged, creating neurological disruption. Scientists suggest if an athlete has already experienced a concussion before, they’re 1-2 times more likely to have a second; 2-4 to have a third; and 3-9 to have a fourth. Surprisingly, research has shown females are more likely to have a concussion, and experience more symptoms compared to males. In addition, women take longer to recover than men. Concussions have shortterm and longterm consequences, or in some cases death.
In late October, Philadelphia Eagles star running back Brian Westbrook suffered a concussion in a game against the Washington Redskins. He sat on the sidelines for two weeks, recovering but when he returned to play on Nov. 15 against the San Diego Chargers, Westbrook got yet another concussion, putting his season and his career in doubt. Westbrook 's immediate re-injury raises the question: should he have been playing at all? And just how many football players are returning to play too soon after concussions, or not having the seriousness of their injuries recognized?
Concussions has been a major topic working in Neurosciences. Many high school athletes do not recognize the signs and symptoms of concussion and fail to report symptoms to a coach because the athlete didn’t realize they were experiencing signs of a concussion. At my facility there has been an increase in admissions with young adults that have suffered one or more concussions. In my opinion, it is part of the nurse’s role to educate the patient and their family about how to prevent concussions. There’s also not enough education in the schools about concussion prevention. The practice issue is that young adults do not receive enough education about concussions therefore athletes are returning to play to soon. Research supports that with
Much attention has been given lately to the effect of heading the soccer ball in youth soccer. Some people say it causes major brain damage later in life. Other people say that there are no major injuries from the ball, it is the collisions between players that causes injuries. I belive heading the ball causes injuries and it should be banned from youth soccer. Heading is seen as dangerous and kids are still growing and developing and shouldn't have to have head trauma at such a young age. Another reason to disallow heading in youth soccer is that the skill is improperly taught, or not taught at all, to many kids who participate in this sport.
Over 1.7 million traumatic brain injuries are reported each year. According to reports the leading cause of brain injuries are from falls followed by motor vehicle accidents, and accidents that were a result of being struck by something. Falls account for 32.5% of traumatic brain injuries in the United States. 50% of all child brain injuries are from falling. 61 % of all traumatic brain injuries among adults are 65 years old or older. Traumatic brain injuries are very violent blows or jolts to the head or body that result in the penetration of the skull. Mild traumatic brain injuries can cause brief dysfunction of the brain cells. Serious brain injuries can cause bleeding, bruising, physical damage to other parts of the body and torn tissues. Brain injuries are more prevalent with males rather than females. Causes of brain injuries include:
Phineas Gage, a 25 year old construction worker is known as one of the most famous patients that suffered from a traumatic brain injury. While working at a railroad site, an iron tamping rod (43 inches long, 1.25 diameter) went through his left cheek, through his brain, and out the skull. He surprisingly ended up surviving this traumatic injury. After a month in the hospital, he was back out on the street. Once a nice, caring person, Phineas turned into an aggressive man who could not even keep a job. Just like Phineas Gage, a TBI can potentially change everything. Brain studies on traumatic brain injuries are increasing every year. Even though the brain is very functional, brain injuries can have many physical, emotional, social, and economical effects.
Head trauma is a generalized group of injuries that are inflicted upon the brain by an amount of force from a collision, often by a car accident, or an intrusion of the skull and/or brain. The name ‘head trauma’ is often used as a blanket term for multiple types of brain injuries that can be detrimental to a human's development and current life, such as concussions, contusions, and multiple other force-related head injuries. Technology adapts in order to understand how the brain works under these circumstances, and we as humans create new and more advanced machines and medicine to combat the effects of head trauma. This new technology aids the human race in our quest to both combat and to understand head trauma, as well as help us understand how it can affect our society.
Stocchetti, N., Pagan, F., Calappi, E., Canavesi, K., Beretta, L., Citerio, G., … Colombo, A., (2004). Inaccurate early assessment of neurological severity in head injury. Journal of Neurotrauma, 21(9), 1131-1140. doi:10.1089/neu.2004.21.1131