A symptom characteristic of a severe concussion. Signs of a concussion of the head: symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and consequences. Treatment after a concussion

Content

A mild concussion is a traumatic brain injury in which there are short-term changes in the functioning of this organ. The pathological condition occurs as a result of blows and bruises. The initial symptoms are almost imperceptible, but a slight concussion can later lead to severe consequences in the form of headaches or Parkinson's disease. Timely correct help and exact implementation of the doctor's instructions will help to avoid unnecessary complications.

What is a concussion

Closed mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a concussion (Latin commocio cerebri). At the same time, there are no significant disturbances in the work of the brain, the symptoms are fleeting. These concussions account for 70 to 90% of all TBI cases. It is difficult to make a diagnosis, so the disease often goes unnoticed.

About a third of patients get a concussion while intoxicated, the victims are unable to understand what happened in time and seek help after a long time. In this case, errors in the diagnosis can reach 50%. With a concussion, there are no macrostructural changes, the integrity of the tissues does not change. Violation of interneuronal interaction is short-term, tissue damage is diffuse.

The reasons

Concussion is a consequence of mechanical impact: indirect (acceleration injury, inertial), direct (impact head injury). As a result, the brain array is displaced relative to the axis of the body and the cranial cavity, the synaptic apparatus is damaged, and tissue fluid is redistributed. Common causes of head injury include:

• road accidents (traffic accidents);
• criminal cases;
• injuries at home, at work,
• sports.

Signs of a concussion

Symptoms depend on the severity of the injury. The pathological condition is divided into degrees:

• First: clouding of the state, confusion of speech without loss of memory.
• Second: amnesia is acceptable, but without fainting.
• Third: the patient loses consciousness.

A concussion is considered to be a mild form of TBI. The pathological condition has 3 stages:

• acute period. It lasts from the moment of injury to stabilization of the condition, on average about two weeks. At this time, metabolic processes in damaged tissues proceed faster, autoimmune reactions are triggered in relation to satellite cells and neurons.
• Intermediate. It lasts from the moment of stabilization of impaired brain functions until their normalization, the duration is about two months. In the intermediate period, homeostasis is restored, and other pathological conditions may form.
• Remote (residual) period. The patient recovers (progression of neurological diseases caused by trauma is possible, duration: 1.5–2.5 years. The well-being of the period is individual, determined by the capabilities of the central nervous system (central nervous system), the presence of neurological pathology to TBI, the characteristics of the immune system.

In an adult

The main symptom of a concussion in an adult is a disorder of consciousness at the time of the injury. Immediately after the incident, you may still experience:

• partial or complete amnesia;
• headache; dizziness;
• ringing, noise in the ears;
• vomiting, bouts of nausea;
• Gurevich's oculostatic phenomenon (with certain movements of the eyeballs, static is disturbed);
• insomnia;
• weakness;
• dystonia of facial vessels (pallor, turning into hyperemia);
• increased sweating;
• neurological manifestations: asymmetry of the corners of the mouth, quickly passing, dilation or narrowing of the pupils;
• nystagmus (oscillatory eye movements);
• unsteadiness of gait;
• poor expression.

After injury and concussion, amnesia often occurs. Loss of memories differs in time of occurrence:

• Retrograde: forgetting the circumstances and events that happened before the injury.
• Congradnaya: the patient's memory disappears from the memory of the length of time corresponding to the injury.
• Anterograde: there is a loss of memory of events that occurred after the injury.

In children

The clinical picture in children is rapid, the signs of concussion are more indicative. The pathological condition has symptoms due to the compensatory capabilities of the central nervous system, incomplete calcification of the sutures, and elasticity of the elements of the skull. The disease in older children often occurs without loss of consciousness, vegetative symptoms are present: the color of the skin changes, tachycardia occurs. The pain is localized at the site of injury. The acute period is shortened (has a duration of 10 days). The following symptoms are observed:

• temperature rise;
• cold sweat;
• pallor of the face;
• loud crying, after the child falls asleep.

In babies, due to slight differentiation of the central nervous system, there may be no symptoms. In children from 2 years old, ringing in the ears, short-term blindness are possible. For babies 2-5 years old, the following symptoms are characteristic:

• bouts of vomiting, nausea, desire to constantly drink;
• impaired coordination;
• fever, the child begins to sweat:
• nystagmus;
• lack of facial expressions;
• lethargy, lethargy.

Complications

Postconcussion syndrome is a commonly diagnosed consequence of a concussion. The condition develops against the background of a traumatic brain injury, accompanied by drowsiness, headache, bouts of dizziness, numbness of the extremities, paresthesia, memory loss, increased sensitivity to noise and light. The following complications after traumatic brain injury are possible:

• somatoform autonomic dysfunction;
• asthenic syndrome;
• memory problems;
• emotional instability, behavioral disorders;
• insomnia.

Diagnostics

The circumstances of the injury must be taken into account when making a diagnosis. Brain injury often resolves without objective signs. In the first hours after the incident, the doctor may notice a loss of consciousness, nystagmus, unsteadiness of gait, double vision. In concussion, there are no bone fractures, there are no deviations in the pressure and composition of the cerebrospinal fluid, ultrasound examination does not reveal expansion and displacement of the median structures of the brain, computed tomography does not detect traumatic abnormalities.

Diagnosis of concussion is difficult due to the paucity of objective data. The main diagnostic criterion is the regression of symptoms within a week. The following instrumental studies are often carried out:

• x-ray (will show the absence of fractures);
• electroencephalography (the doctor will notice diffuse changes in the bioelectrical activity of the brain);
• computed tomography, magnetic resonance (will show if there are changes in the density of white and gray matter).

Treatment for a concussion

Patients with suspected TBI are subject to hospitalization, they are under observation in the hospital for about two weeks (the period depends on the severity of the injury). Hospitalization is mandatory for victims if:

• fainting lasted more than 10 minutes;
• there is a neurological focal symptomatology, which complicates the pathological condition;
• the patient denies the fact of loss of consciousness;
• convulsive syndrome;
• suspicion of a fracture of the skull, fracture of the base of the skull, penetrating wound;
• confusion is observed for a long time.

With a concussion of the initial degree, the victim is sent for treatment at home, having previously examined him. The pathological condition is detected by CT or radiography. The therapist may prescribe an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), an ultrasound examination, an examination by an ophthalmologist or a neurosurgeon.

Home treatment after a concussion involves a drug course lasting 2-3 weeks. The patient needs the following conditions:

• subdued lighting;
• bed rest;
• peace;
• refusal to watch TV, play computer games, listen to loud music;
• lack of physical exertion, overstrain (mental, emotional);
• a balanced diet, with the exception of foods that provoke pressure surges (caffeine, spices, fatty foods, sweets, alcohol).

If you follow the doctor's recommendations, the patient will feel an improvement on the second day. After a week, the pathological symptoms should disappear. After the course of treatment, it is better for the patient to refrain from exertion, lifting weights for some time, to be more in nature. Rest and a gentle attitude will help prevent the development of complications, such as dizziness, migraines, and vascular disorders.

First aid

If there is a suspicion of a concussion, and consciousness quickly returned to the victim, he should be placed in a prone position with his head slightly raised. If a person does not come to his senses, then he must be placed in a saving position:

• place on the right side;
• tilt your head so that your face is directed towards the surface;
• bend the left arm and leg at a right angle, provided there are no fractures of the spine and limbs.

First aid for a concussion will save the victim from serious consequences. In this position, air easily passes into the lungs, and any fluid that accumulates in the mouth, whether it be saliva, blood or vomit, flows out. In this position, the possibility of retraction of the tongue is excluded. Obvious wounds should be treated immediately. Then the victim is taken to the hospital on duty to clarify the diagnosis. Bed rest is recommended for three days.

Medical therapy

Medical treatment for concussion is rarely needed and is symptomatic. Pharmacotherapy is aimed at normalizing brain functions, relieving migraine, dizziness, getting rid of insomnia, nervousness. With a concussion, the following groups of drugs are prescribed:

• improving the blood flow of the brain vessels (Cinnarizine);
• analgesics (Pentalgin, Analgin, Sedalgin, Deksalgin, Maksigan);
• nootropics (Pyridol, Piracetam, Glycine, Nootropil);
• sedatives, antidepressants (motherwort, valerian, Corvalol, Valocordin, Afobazole, Sibazon, Grandoxin, Phenazepam);
• improving metabolic processes in the brain (Instenon, Nicotinate);
• normalizing the work of blood vessels (Cavinton, Sermion, Instenon);
• relieving dizziness (Cinnarizine, Tanakan, Platifillin with Papaverine);
• sleeping pills (Relaxon, Donarmil);
• fortifying agents (vitamins, tonic preparations, antioxidants).

Carrying out metabolic and vascular therapy contributes to the rapid recovery of brain functions after a concussion. Doctors recommend combining vascular with nootropic. Among the possible combinations: taking Cavinton 1 tablet and Nootropil 2 capsules or 1 tablet of Stugeron and Noopept three times a day for two months. Neuroprotectors provide metabolic support to the brain.

The course of therapy should include preparations containing magnesium (Magnelis, Magne B6, Panangin), and antioxidants (some are intended for intravenous injections): Mildronate 1 tablet 3 times a day, Cytoflavin 2 tablets 2 times a day. To overcome the asthenic phenomena that occur after a concussion, they prescribe: Phenotropil (0.1 in the morning), Vasobral (2 ml twice a day), Kogitum (20 ml per day), vitamins (Centrum, Vitrum).

Treatment of a concussion at home with folk remedies

At home, the treatment of a concussion in an adult includes bed rest for about 2-3 weeks (for a child - about a month) and medication, but traditional medicine recipes should not be neglected either. To restore health after a concussion, plants such as St. John's wort, succession, aloe vera, cinquefoil, ginseng and eleutherococcus are used. Most popular recipes:

• Infuse for 21 days 1 tbsp. Aralia herbs in 100 ml of medical alcohol. Take 30 drops twice a day (in the morning and before lunch).
• Prepare an infusion of thyme: 10 g of herbs in 400 ml of hot water, hold on fire, but do not boil, strain, take half a glass before meals.
• Mix arnica flowers (20 g) with crushed myrtle leaves (10 g). Pour the mixture with 200 ml of boiling water, insist in a thermos for several hours. Strain, take 10 ml before meals.

Forecast

After a concussion, it is recommended to see a neurologist for at least a year. Such an injury does not lead to death, and the manifestations of symptoms disappear after a month. Compliance with the regime and the elimination of factors that can aggravate the consequences are guarantors of a full recovery of working capacity. In some cases, after the disappearance of symptoms, the victims may experience headache, sleep disturbances, increased fatigue and irritability in relation to light and sounds. After three months, these manifestations disappear.

Video

One of the pathological conditions that often occurs in medicine is a concussion. It does not cause obvious pathological changes in the brain tissues, but a person has complaints, and some signs and symptoms that indicate functional disorders in the medulla. How to recognize a concussion?

A concussion can be caused by trauma, a blow, a fall, or even too sudden a movement. Often concussion occurs in car accidents, even when there is no direct impact (impact) in the head area, when falling on the coccyx. It is believed that at this moment there are microscopic changes that cause symptoms of concussion and worsening of the patient's condition.

A concussion occurs after bumps and falls, as well as in an accident.

Degrees of the disease

Injuries of this type can cause loss of consciousness, but this does not always happen. For example, in young children, a concussion is rarely accompanied by loss of consciousness, while older people, on the contrary, may not recover for a long time. Loss of consciousness is the main symptom of a third-degree concussion.

How do you know if you or someone close to you has a concussion? There are a number of signs and complaints that make it possible to identify it, they will be described below. It should be borne in mind that in young children, symptoms may not appear immediately, so after an injury, you should consult a doctor so that he can check the reflexes and conduct additional studies if necessary.

If the concussion proceeds without loss of consciousness, then the patient in the first minutes after the injury experiences stupor, he cannot understand where he is, answer the questions of others, sometimes there is memory loss (amnesia), which is a symptom of concussion of the second degree. The first degree of concussion, or mild concussion, is characterized only by temporary disorientation in space (dazedness) and neurological symptoms that can be detected later.

Clinical picture

Immediately after the injury, a state of stupor occurs (stupor), if the patient has lost consciousness, then stupor is observed when he comes to. The patient complains of weakness, dizziness, nausea, a single vomiting is possible. The face is pale, the pulse is frequent. The patient is unable to quickly answer questions, in some cases does not remember what happened to him (amnesia). There is a violation of coordination, it is difficult for the patient to stand on his feet.

Dizziness may occur immediately after injury

Later, other signs of concussion develop - lethargy, drowsiness, sleep disturbance. Sometimes there are flushes to the face, dizziness, tinnitus. Intolerance to noise, light (photophobia) and severe headaches are often observed. It is difficult for a person to concentrate, there is depression, irritability. This condition can last from 2-3 days to several weeks, which is more common in the elderly. It depends on the severity of the concussion and the treatment.

When after the injury there are no symptoms inherent in concussion, that is, the symptoms could not be determined, there was no loss of consciousness, or the person believes that everything is in order with him and does not complain about anything, in the first hours he should remain under observation, since many signs may appear later.

Symptoms and signs

How to define a concussion? The fact is that the symptoms of a concussion in adults do not differ much from the symptoms in a child or teenager, but the child cannot always correctly explain, tell what he feels. Some symptoms are often associated with the patient's complaints, others can be determined by examination. Consider the most common manifestations of concussion.

In addition, there are also neurological symptoms, which are determined by the doctor. It is not necessary that the patient had all these complaints and symptoms. The diagnosis is based on a combination of certain signs.

Diagnostics

When making a diagnosis, the doctor takes into account the history data (how the injury occurred, whether there was a loss of consciousness), the patient's complaints, conducts a survey to determine the concentration of attention, detect signs of amnesia. He can ask questions about what preceded the injury, what day, month, or ask to do some simple tests. For example, call a few numbers in reverse order, repeat a series of words. Such tests allow you to determine a violation of memory, concentration and help identify concussion and orient your further actions (call an ambulance) at home.

After that, a neurological examination of the patient is performed. Symptoms that may indicate a concussion include:

2-3 symptoms and anamnesis data are enough to make a diagnosis, but first you need to make sure that there are no more serious brain injuries (contusion, fractures, hemorrhages, and others). For this, various additional studies are used: X-ray, computed or magnetic resonance imaging, encephalography, spinal puncture.

For many people, a concussion goes away without treatment, but at home, after an injury, it is necessary to provide the patient with peace, and if his condition worsens, be sure to consult a doctor.

One of the mild forms of TBI (traumatic brain injury) should be called a concussion. However, the consequences are reversible, since neurological symptoms are not characteristic of a bruise. TBI requires immediate intervention by a traumatologist or surgeon, the necessary treatment and medical supervision. Signs of a concussion in an adult are usually the following: ringing in the ears, dizziness or headache, impaired coordination of movements. The patient feels sick or vomits, sees double, and may bleed from the nose. The patient cannot stand loud sounds and bright lights, his speech is incoherent, his mind is confused, he is unable to concentrate. But there are other signs of a concussion, symptoms: fever, high body temperature or vice versa, chills, insomnia and sweating.

TBI can be of three types: light, medium and heavy. In any case, after a head injury, it is necessary to see a doctor, even if the general condition is satisfactory. Otherwise, there is a risk of developing an intracranial hematoma. And this is fraught with more serious consequences that develop after some time, but carry unpleasant consequences in the form of frequent headaches, tinnitus, and so on.

It is known that if the bruise was not severe, the symptoms may pass in a few days. Therefore, many try to "get sick" at home, without going to the doctor. But we must remember that even if the victim will not be disturbed by anything, repeated trauma can summarize (present and past) symptoms and treatment will be more severe and protracted.

The first form of TBI - Light concussion

Symptoms of concussion in adults with this degree may not appear or appear to a slight extent. A bruise or bump may form in the head or neck area. During the bruise, "sparks from the eyes" appeared, dizziness or nausea may occur. Usually people think that everything will work out and it is not at all necessary to go to the doctor, but this is fundamentally not true. Whatever the injury, even if it is a mild concussion, it is necessary to see a doctor and conduct all examinations so that there are no problems in the future. After a slight concussion, the victim recovers much faster and in the future the injury should not cause him any inconvenience.

The second form of TBI - Concussion of moderate severity

With moderate injuries, the following symptoms may appear: loss of consciousness up to 10-20 minutes, vomiting, migraine, heart palpitations, general weakness and tinnitus. It is urgent to call a doctor who will check the condition and prescribe the correct treatment. Often, with such a concussion, the patient is treated in a hospital. He is left in the hospital for several days or even weeks for further observation.

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The third form of TBI - Severe concussion

The main signs of a concussion are loss of consciousness and pale skin. A person can “turn off” for a long time. There were cases that the patient regained consciousness after 5 hours from the moment of injury. He also had a general serious condition.

Why is a concussion dangerous? If a person did not go to the doctor in time or decided not to do it at all, over time, after a traumatic brain injury, migraines, bleeding, sleep disturbance, depression, and various phobias may occur.

Concussion in children

While the child is learning to walk, he often falls. Parents need to watch him carefully. To avoid unnecessary injuries, it is recommended to lay soft rugs or rugs in the apartment. But it is not always possible to look after the child, the smallest ones have a lot of unspent energy, so injuries and bruises happen often. To understand that a child has a common bump or concussion, you need to know the signs and symptoms of TBI.

Concussion in children under one year most often occurs without loss of consciousness. The child may spit up more than usual, become pale. He can cry for no reason or vice versa, sleep for a long time. The manifestation of TBI at this age is not so scary, especially if the bruise is mild. The child's brain recovers faster. But this does not mean that you do not need to show the baby to the doctor.

A preschool child may complain of headaches, nausea, and sweating. A bad mood can quickly change into a good one. Unreasonable whims, crying also begin, the child is very difficult to put to sleep, sleep worsens.

In all cases where a child, regardless of age, has received a head injury, it is necessary to consult a doctor. Sometimes it can be very difficult to tell if it's a concussion or something more serious. Only a doctor can rule out cerebral hemorrhage, intracranial hematomas, and so on.

First aid or how to help the sick at home?

While waiting for the doctors, it is necessary to provide the patient with comfortable conditions. At home, you need to keep silence, do not turn on the TV or radio loudly. It is best to curtain the curtains so that bright daylight or sunlight does not enter your eyes. The patient should be in a horizontal position and try not to move once again.

You can put a small soft pillow under your head. Very good for relieving headaches, cold compresses. Instead, you can apply ice to the bruised area. If there is no ice, at home there is always a piece of meat or a frozen vegetable mixture in the freezer. The package can be safely applied using it instead of a compress.

It makes no sense to call doctors, provided that the condition has not worsened within 20-30 minutes. There was no nausea and vomiting, the patient did not lose consciousness and he does not feel dizzy and does not have a headache. The next day, it is necessary to visit a neurologist at the place of residence, so that he observes the patient's condition for some time. But let the patient not be active and not lift weights. Sports activities are prohibited until the doctor gives them the go-ahead.

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However, if after a concussion a person has lost consciousness, and the doctors are still on the way, you can help him to take the correct saving position of the body. This will help him ensure the free passage of air into the lungs. Moreover, the position allows fluid (vomit) to flow freely from the mouth, eliminates respiratory failure due to tongue retraction, and prevents saliva, blood, or vomit from entering the respiratory tract.

In the rescue position, the patient is turned over to the right side, his head is thrown back, his face is turned to the floor. The left arm and leg must be bent so that the limbs lie at a right angle. If a concussion in a patient is accompanied by bloody discharge, it is best to apply a bandage to the wound, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe bruise is treated in advance. The bandage must be sterile.

If a person is conscious, you can offer him warm sweet tea, the patient does not need to eat at such moments. Yes, and it is unlikely that he will have such a desire.

Concussion treatment

Upon arrival at the patient, the doctor decides on his hospitalization or leaves him at home, on sick leave. In any case, the patient is advised to stay in bed, do not strain, do not solve crossword puzzles, do not engage in intellectual conversations, do not watch TV, do not play video games and do not turn on a laptop or computer. Brain activity for him for several days is useless.

If the patient stays at home, he needs to observe bed rest from several days to several weeks, the period depends on the severity of the bruise or injury. It should be added that if the signs of concussion are pronounced, bed rest can last up to a month. Also, the doctor will definitely prescribe sedatives - this is valerian, motherwort. For vessels - glycine. Also, you may need to take analgesics (that is, painkillers), such as: ketorol, analgin or baralgin.

Treatment outside the home implies that the patient will be admitted to a hospital, under the supervision of a traumatologist, surgeon or neurologist. This will help to provide the patient with the necessary assistance in time if his condition suddenly worsens. Again, in the hospital, you will need to observe bed rest, do not read or watch TV. In conjunction with this, the doctor will prescribe tranquilizers (phenazepam, relanium), analgesics, a vitamin complex and sedatives.

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Moreover, for dizziness, doctors recommend drinking cinnarizine or bellaspon, and diuretics are prescribed to prevent cerebral edema. While the patient is in the hospital, and for several months after being discharged from it, he will have to take nootropic and vasotropic drugs. Drugs help improve brain function. A concussion will need to be treated for at least six months to a year, depending on the doctor's prescriptions and the severity of the injury.

Rehabilitation for mild TBI

A professional doctor will be able to make a diagnosis, focusing on the symptoms and signs of a concussion from the first minutes. But to confirm it, you will need to do some research. For example, do craniography to rule out bone fractures; check the blood vessels of the fundus, make an ultrasound of the vessels of the head, EEG, MRI and so on. Based on the results obtained, the doctor makes a diagnosis, determines the degree of complexity of the injury, compares the symptoms and prescribes treatment.

The patient will have to recover from several days to a month, depending on the severity of the injury. In any case, it is necessary to strictly follow all the recommendations of the doctor and not neglect the medications. Concussion treatment does not end after discharge. During the year, you will need to visit a neurologist who can prevent the development of post-traumatic syndrome. Also, it is strongly not recommended to play sports and lift weights. The patient may need the sympathy and understanding of the family in these matters.

Forecast for recovery

If the victim followed the doctor's recommendations, he will be able to fully recover. Headaches and other symptoms should not appear. For this, in addition to following the regimen, proper nutrition and medications, the patient must protect himself from stress and worries. In this case, it will be possible to say that the patient is able to work and is ready to live a full life, as before.

However, you need to be prepared for the fact that the first time after a bruise, the symptoms still appear, sometimes pain in the head may occur, especially after any emotional stress or stress. Therefore, you need to ask your doctor in advance what to do in such a situation, what medicines are best to take.

A concussion is one of the milder forms of traumatic brain injury, as a result of which the vessels of the brain are damaged. All disorders of brain activity are dangerous and require increased attention and treatment.

A concussion occurs only with an aggressive mechanical impact on the head - for example, this can happen when a person falls and hits his head on the floor. Doctors still cannot give an exact definition of the mechanism for the development of concussion symptoms, because even with computed tomography, doctors do not see any pathological changes in the tissues and cortex of the organ.

It is important to remember that concussion treatment is not recommended at home. First of all, it is necessary to contact a specialist in a medical institution, and only after a reliable diagnosis of the injuries and their severity, it is possible, in agreement with the doctor, to use home treatment methods.

What it is?

A concussion is damage to the bones of the skull or soft tissues, such as brain tissue, blood vessels, nerves, meninges. An accident can happen to a person, in which he can hit his head on a hard surface, this just entails such a phenomenon as a concussion. In this case, some disturbances in the functioning of the brain occur, which do not lead to irreversible consequences.

As already mentioned, a concussion can be obtained from a fall, a blow to the head or neck, a sharp slowdown in head movement in such situations:

• at home;
• in production;
• in the children's team;
• during classes in sports sections;
• in case of traffic accidents;
• in domestic conflicts with assault;
• in military conflicts;
• with barotrauma;
• with injuries with rotation (turn) of the head.

As a result of a head injury, the brain changes its location for a short time and almost immediately returns to it. At the same time, the mechanism of inertia and the peculiarities of fixing brain structures in the cranium come into force - not keeping up with a sharp movement, part of the nerve processes can stretch, lose contact with other cells.

Pressure changes in different parts of the skull, blood supply may be temporarily disrupted, and hence the nutrition of nerve cells. An important fact in concussion is that all changes are reversible. There are no ruptures, hemorrhages, no edema.

signs

The most characteristic signs of a concussion are:

• confusion, lethargy;
• headache, dizziness,;
• incoherent slurred speech;
• nausea or vomiting;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• diplopia (double vision);
• inability to concentrate;
• light and sound phobia;
• memory loss.

A concussion has three degrees of severity, from the mildest grade 1 to the severe grade 3. About what symptoms of a concussion are most common, we will consider further.

Mild concussion

In the case of a mild concussion in an adult, the following symptoms occur:

• severe bruising of the head or neck (the blow "detonates" from the cervical vertebrae to the head);
• short-term - a few seconds - loss of consciousness, often concussions and without loss of consciousness;
• the effect of "sparks from the eyes";
• dizziness, aggravated by turning the head and tilting;
• the effect of "old film" before the eyes.

Symptoms of a concussion

Immediately after the injury, the victim has general cerebral symptoms of a concussion:

1. Nausea and gag reflex in the case when it is not known about what happened to the person and he is unconscious.
2. One of the most important symptoms is loss of consciousness. The time of loss of consciousness can be long or, conversely, short.
3. Headache and impaired coordination indicate a brain injury, and a person also feels dizzy.
4. With a concussion, pupils of different shapes are possible.
5. A person wants to sleep or, on the contrary, is hyperactive.
6. Direct confirmation of a concussion is convulsions.
7. If the victim has regained consciousness, he may experience discomfort in bright light or loud sound.
8. When talking with a person, he may experience confusion. He may not even remember what happened before the accident.
9. Sometimes the speech may not be coherent.

During the first days after an injury, a person may experience the following signs of a concussion:

• nausea;
• dizziness;
• headache;
• sleep disturbance;
• disorientation in time and space;
• pallor of the skin;
• sweating;
• lack of appetite;
• weakness;
• inability to concentrate;
• feeling of discomfort;
• fatigue;
• feeling of unsteadiness in the legs;
• flushes of blood to the face;
• noise in ears.

It must be remembered that not always the patient will show all the symptoms characteristic of a concussion - it all depends on the severity of the damage and the general condition of the human body. That is why an experienced specialist should determine the severity of a brain injury.

What to do with a concussion at home

Before the arrival of doctors, first aid to the victim at home should be to immobilize and ensure him complete rest. You can put something soft under your head, apply a cold compress or ice to your head.

If the concussion victim continues to be unconscious, the so-called rescue position is preferable:

• on the right side
• head thrown back, face turned to the ground,
• the left arm and leg are bent at right angles at the elbow and knee joints (previously, fractures of the limbs and spine must be excluded).

This position, ensuring the free passage of air into the lungs and the unimpeded outflow of fluid from the mouth, prevents respiratory failure due to retraction of the tongue, leakage of saliva, blood, and vomit into the respiratory tract. If there are bleeding wounds on the head, apply a bandage.

To treat a concussion, the victim must be hospitalized without fail. Bed rest for such patients is at least 12 days. During this time, the patient is prohibited from any intellectual and psycho-emotional stress (reading, watching TV, listening to music, etc.).

Severity

The division of a concussion into degrees of severity is rather arbitrary - the main criterion for this is the period of time that the victim spends unconscious:

• 1 degree - a slight concussion, in which loss of consciousness lasts up to 5 minutes or is absent. The general condition of the person is satisfactory, neurological symptoms (impaired movements, speech, sensory organs) are practically absent.
• Grade 2 - consciousness can be absent for up to 15 minutes. The general condition is moderate, vomiting, nausea, neurological symptoms appear.
• Grade 3 - tissue damage expressed in volume or depth, consciousness is absent for more than 15 minutes (sometimes a person does not regain consciousness up to 6 hours from the moment of injury), the general condition is severe with severe dysfunction of all organs.

It must be remembered that any victim who has suffered a head injury should be examined by a doctor - even with a minor, at first glance, injury, intracranial hematoma may develop, the symptoms of which will progress after a while ("light gap"), and steadily increase. With a concussion, almost all symptoms disappear under the influence of ongoing treatment - this takes time.

Effects

In the case of adequate treatment and compliance by the patient with the recommendations of doctors after a concussion, in most cases there is a complete recovery and restoration of working capacity. However, some patients may experience certain complications.

1. The most severe consequence of a concussion is postconcussion syndrome, which develops after a certain period of time (days, weeks, months) after TBI and torments a person all his life with constant bouts of intense headache, dizziness, nervousness, insomnia.
2. Irritability, psycho-emotional instability, irritability, aggression, but quick appeasement.
3. Convulsive syndrome, outwardly resembling epilepsy, depriving the right to drive a car and access to certain professions.
4. Expressed, manifested by jumps in blood pressure, dizziness and headache, hot flashes, sweating and fatigue.
5. Hypersensitivity to alcoholic beverages.
6. Depressive states, neuroses, fears and phobias, sleep disturbance.

Timely quality treatment will help minimize the consequences of a concussion.

Concussion treatment

Like any brain injury or disease, a concussion should be treated under the supervision of a neurologist, traumatologist, or surgeon who monitor any signs and progress of the disease. Treatment implies mandatory bed rest - 2-3 weeks for an adult, 3-4 weeks for a child at least.

It often happens that a patient after a concussion has an acute sensitivity to bright light, loud sounds. It is necessary to isolate him from this so as not to aggravate the symptoms.

The patient is in the hospital mainly for the purpose of monitoring him, where he is given preventive and symptomatic treatment:

1. Analgesics (baralgin, sedalgin, ketorol).
2. Calming agents (tinctures of valerian and motherwort, tranquilizers - Relanium, phenazepam, etc.).
3. For dizziness, bellaspon, bellataminal, cinnarizine are prescribed.
4. Magnesium sulphate helps to relieve general stress, and diuretics are used to prevent cerebral edema.
5. It is advisable to use vascular drugs (trental, cavinton), nootropics (nootropil, piracetam) and B vitamins.

In addition to symptomatic treatment, therapy is usually prescribed to restore impaired brain functions and prevent complications. The appointment of such therapy is possible no earlier than 5-7 days after the injury.

Patients are recommended to take nootropic (Nootropil, Piracetam) and vasotropic (Cavinton, Teonicol) drugs. They have a beneficial effect on cerebral circulation and improve brain activity. Their reception is shown within a few months after discharge from the hospital.

Rehabilitation

The entire rehabilitation period, lasting from 2 to 5 weeks depending on the severity of the condition, the victim must follow all the doctor's recommendations and strictly observe bed rest. Also, any physical and mental stress is strictly prohibited. During the year, follow-up by a neurologist is necessary to prevent complications.

Remember, after suffering a concussion, even in a mild form, various complications may occur in the form of post-traumatic syndrome, and epilepsy in people who abuse alcohol. To avoid these troubles, you should see a doctor for a year.

A concussion is one of the milder forms of traumatic brain injury, as a result of which the vessels of the brain are damaged. All disorders of brain activity are dangerous and require increased attention and treatment.

A concussion occurs only with an aggressive mechanical impact on the head - for example, this can happen when a person falls and hits his head on the floor.

Doctors still cannot give an exact definition of the mechanism for the development of concussion symptoms, because even with computed tomography, doctors do not see any pathological changes in the tissues and cortex of the organ.

It is important to remember that concussion treatment is not recommended at home. First of all, it is necessary to contact a specialist in a medical institution, and only after a reliable diagnosis of the injuries and their severity, it is possible, in agreement with the doctor, to use home treatment methods.

What it is?

A concussion is damage to the bones of the skull or soft tissues, such as brain tissue, blood vessels, nerves, meninges.

An accident can happen to a person, in which he can hit his head on a hard surface, this just entails such a phenomenon as a concussion.

In this case, some disturbances in the functioning of the brain occur, which do not lead to irreversible consequences.

As already mentioned, a concussion can be obtained from a fall, a blow to the head or neck, a sharp slowdown in head movement in such situations:

• at home;
• in production;
• in the children's team;
• during classes in sports sections;
• in case of traffic accidents;
• in domestic conflicts with assault;
• in military conflicts;
• with barotrauma;
• with injuries with rotation (turn) of the head.

As a result of a head injury, the brain changes its location for a short time and almost immediately returns to it. At the same time, the mechanism of inertia and the peculiarities of fixing brain structures in the cranium come into force - not keeping up with a sharp movement, part of the nerve processes can stretch, lose contact with other cells.

Pressure changes in different parts of the skull, blood supply may be temporarily disrupted, and hence the nutrition of nerve cells. An important fact in concussion is that all changes are reversible. There are no ruptures, hemorrhages, no edema.

signs

The most characteristic signs of a concussion are:

• confusion, lethargy;
• headache, dizziness, ringing in the ears;
• incoherent slurred speech;
• nausea or vomiting;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• diplopia (double vision);
• inability to concentrate;
• light and sound phobia;
• memory loss.

A concussion has three degrees of severity, from the mildest grade 1 to the severe grade 3. About what symptoms of a concussion are most common, we will consider further.

Mild concussion

In the case of a mild concussion in an adult, the following symptoms occur:

• severe bruising of the head or neck (the blow "detonates" from the cervical vertebrae to the head);
• short-term - a few seconds - loss of consciousness, often concussions and without loss of consciousness;
• the effect of "sparks from the eyes";
• dizziness, aggravated by turning the head and tilting;
• the effect of "old film" before the eyes.

Symptoms of a concussion

Immediately after the injury, the victim has general cerebral symptoms of a concussion:

1. Nausea and gag reflex in the case when it is not known about what happened to the person and he is unconscious.
2. One of the most important symptoms is loss of consciousness. The time of loss of consciousness can be long or, conversely, short.
3. Headache and impaired coordination indicate a brain injury, and a person also feels dizzy.
4. With a concussion, pupils of different shapes are possible.
5. A person wants to sleep or, on the contrary, is hyperactive.
6. Direct confirmation of a concussion is convulsions.
7. If the victim has regained consciousness, he may experience discomfort in bright light or loud sound.
8. When talking with a person, he may experience confusion. He may not even remember what happened before the accident.
9. Sometimes the speech may not be coherent.

During the first days after an injury, a person may experience the following signs of a concussion:

• nausea;
• dizziness;
• headache;
• sleep disturbance;
• disorientation in time and space;
• pallor of the skin;
• sweating;
• lack of appetite;
• weakness;
• inability to concentrate;
• feeling of discomfort;
• fatigue;
• feeling of unsteadiness in the legs;
• flushes of blood to the face;
• noise in ears.

It must be remembered that not always the patient will show all the symptoms characteristic of a concussion - it all depends on the severity of the damage and the general condition of the human body. That is why an experienced specialist should determine the severity of a brain injury.

What to do with a concussion at home

Before the arrival of doctors, first aid to the victim at home should be to immobilize and ensure him complete rest. You can put something soft under your head, apply a cold compress or ice to your head.

If the concussion victim continues to be unconscious, the so-called rescue position is preferable:

• on the right side
• head thrown back, face turned to the ground,
• the left arm and leg are bent at right angles at the elbow and knee joints (previously, fractures of the limbs and spine must be excluded).

This position, ensuring the free passage of air into the lungs and the unimpeded outflow of fluid from the mouth, prevents respiratory failure due to retraction of the tongue, leakage of saliva, blood, and vomit into the respiratory tract. If there are bleeding wounds on the head, apply a bandage.

To treat a concussion, the victim must be hospitalized without fail. Bed rest for such patients is at least 12 days. During this time, the patient is prohibited from any intellectual and psycho-emotional stress (reading, watching TV, listening to music, etc.).

Severity

The division of a concussion into degrees of severity is rather arbitrary - the main criterion for this is the period of time that the victim spends unconscious:

• 1 degree - a slight concussion, in which loss of consciousness lasts up to 5 minutes or is absent. The general condition of the person is satisfactory, neurological symptoms (impaired movements, speech, sensory organs) are practically absent.
• Grade 2 - consciousness can be absent for up to 15 minutes. The general condition is moderate, vomiting, nausea, neurological symptoms appear.
• Grade 3 - tissue damage expressed in volume or depth, consciousness is absent for more than 15 minutes (sometimes a person does not regain consciousness up to 6 hours from the moment of injury), the general condition is severe with severe dysfunction of all organs.

It must be remembered that any victim who has suffered a head injury should be examined by a doctor - even with a minor, at first glance, injury, intracranial hematoma may develop, the symptoms of which will progress after a while ("light gap"), and steadily increase. With a concussion, almost all symptoms disappear under the influence of ongoing treatment - this takes time.

Effects

In the case of adequate treatment and compliance by the patient with the recommendations of doctors after a concussion, in most cases there is a complete recovery and restoration of working capacity. However, some patients may experience certain complications.

1. The most severe consequence of a concussion is postconcussion syndrome, which develops after a certain period of time (days, weeks, months) after a head injury and torments a person all his life with constant bouts of intense headache, dizziness, nervousness, and insomnia.
2. Irritability, psycho-emotional instability, irritability, aggression, but quick appeasement.
3. Convulsive syndrome, outwardly resembling epilepsy, depriving the right to drive a car and access to certain professions.
4. Severe vegetative-vascular disorders, manifested by jumps in blood pressure, dizziness and headache, hot flashes, sweating and fatigue.
5. Hypersensitivity to alcoholic beverages.
6. Depressive states, neuroses, fears and phobias, sleep disturbance.

Timely quality treatment will help minimize the consequences of a concussion.

Concussion treatment

Like any brain injury or disease, a concussion should be treated under the supervision of a neurologist, traumatologist, or surgeon who monitor any signs and progress of the disease. Treatment implies mandatory bed rest - 2-3 weeks for an adult, 3-4 weeks for a child at least.

It often happens that a patient after a concussion has an acute sensitivity to bright light, loud sounds. It is necessary to isolate him from this so as not to aggravate the symptoms.

The patient is in the hospital mainly for the purpose of monitoring him, where he is given preventive and symptomatic treatment:

1. Analgesics (baralgin, sedalgin, ketorol).
2. Calming agents (tinctures of valerian and motherwort, tranquilizers - Relanium, phenazepam, etc.).
3. For dizziness, bellaspon, bellataminal, cinnarizine are prescribed.
4. Magnesium sulphate helps to relieve general stress, and diuretics are used to prevent cerebral edema.
5. It is advisable to use vascular drugs (trental, cavinton), nootropics (nootropil, piracetam) and B vitamins.

In addition to symptomatic treatment, therapy is usually prescribed to restore impaired brain functions and prevent complications. The appointment of such therapy is possible no earlier than 5-7 days after the injury.

Patients are recommended to take nootropic (Nootropil, Piracetam) and vasotropic (Cavinton, Teonicol) drugs. They have a beneficial effect on cerebral circulation and improve brain activity. Their reception is shown within a few months after discharge from the hospital.

Rehabilitation

The entire rehabilitation period, lasting from 2 to 5 weeks depending on the severity of the condition, the victim must follow all the doctor's recommendations and strictly observe bed rest. Also, any physical and mental stress is strictly prohibited. During the year, follow-up by a neurologist is necessary to prevent complications.

Remember, after suffering a concussion, even in a mild form, various complications may occur in the form of post-traumatic syndrome, and epilepsy in people who abuse alcohol. To avoid these troubles, you should see a doctor for a year.

Source: http://simptomy-lechenie.net/sotryasenie-mozga/

Mild concussion: symptoms, treatment. What to do with a mild concussion

Mild concussion is one of the forms of TBI, characterized by short-term and transient impairment of its main functions. The causes of mild concussion are head injuries, including bruises of varying intensity.

Despite mild initial symptoms, a mild form of concussion can eventually turn into serious complications (for example, frequent and excruciating headaches, Parkinson's disease in old age).

To avoid this, you need to provide the victim with competent emergency care immediately after the injury and follow the doctor's recommendations during the course of treatment.

Symptoms of mild concussion

Immediately after an injury with a slight concussion, the victim develops the following typical symptoms:

• the appearance of a pulsation in the head, accompanied by tinnitus;
• severe dizziness, in which it is difficult to stand on your feet;
• skin blanching;
• visual disorders - double vision, blurred vision, decreased sharpness, the appearance of "stars" and spots;
• bouts of nausea, rarely accompanied by vomiting;
• lack of appetite;
• the appearance of cold sweat;
• inconsistency of pulse and blood pressure;
• general weakness;
• lack of coordination;
• short term amnesia.

Most of the described symptoms can be signs of disorders of the general brain activity caused by attacks of ischemic stroke or cerebral hypoxia. Therefore, when making a diagnosis, the doctor examines the victim for the presence of indirect symptoms of a concussion:

• decrease in mental functions, expressed in the difficulty of communication and answers to elementary questions;
• mood swings, in particular, the appearance of neurosis and insomnia;
• violation of speech functions.

With a mild form of concussion, the main symptoms are most acute in the first quarter of an hour, in the following hours the discomfort subsides.

Despite some confusion of mental functions inherent in this condition, the victim does not experience a loss of consciousness, even a short one.

If this happens, then the person has a more severe degree of brain damage, and he needs immediate medical attention.

What to do with a mild concussion: first aid

A concussion can occur even after a slight bruise to the head. In such cases, at the first sign of it, it is important to provide the victim with emergency care and send him to the hospital for diagnosis. If the victim can move independently, then you need to help him get to the medical facility or take him by car.

If it is difficult for the victim to move and he is worried about severe symptoms, then you should call the medical team and take the following actions before they arrive:

• lay him in a horizontal position on his side and slightly raise his head so that during an attack of vomiting to prevent the vomit from entering the respiratory tract;
• curtain windows and ensure silence in the room if the injury occurred at home;
• offer the patient sweet tea if he is thirsty;
• distract the victim from sleep, while monitoring his condition: pulse, breathing, blood pressure.

Before a doctor's examination, it is not recommended to apply compresses to the bruised area, even if the pain syndrome is too pronounced. This will avoid complications if damage to the brain structures or nerve endings occurs during the injury.

Treatment for mild concussion

A mild form of concussion should be treated with medication under the supervision of such specialized specialists as a neurologist, neurosurgeon, ophthalmologist and traumatologist.

The patient is assigned a series of diagnostic studies (radiography, ultrasound, CT or MRI), the results of which determine the course of treatment.

The dosage and duration of taking medications is adjusted by the doctor during treatment, depending on the intensity of the symptoms, general well-being and the speed of recovery.

Drug therapy for mild concussion may include a complex consisting of the following drugs and procedures:

1. Means that improve the blood flow of the cerebral vessels (Cinnarizine).
2. Nootropic drugs (Piracetam, Pyridol).
3. Sedatives and antidepressants.
4. Means that improve metabolic processes in brain structures (Nicotinate, Instenon).
5. Drugs that normalize the work of the vascular system (Cavinton).
6. Vitamins of groups A, B, E. C, amino acids.
7. Massage procedures.
8. Reflexology course.

At home, for the treatment of mild concussion, in agreement with the attending physician, you can do herbal medicine. Eleutherococcus, ginseng, arnica, string, aloe vera are suitable for restoring brain activity and eliminating the consequences of brain injury. Raw materials for decoctions and teas can be purchased at a pharmacy, and the recipe for their preparation can be checked with a doctor.

For a complete recovery, an adult patient must undergo a course of treatment, the duration of which is 2-3 weeks. For a child, the course of treatment is increased to 1 month. During this period, the patient must provide the following conditions:

• bed rest;
• subdued lighting;
• limit or exclude altogether watching TV, listening to loud music and playing games on the computer;
• exclude physical activity, emotional and mental overstrain, noisy communication;
• balance the daily diet, eliminating from it for the duration of treatment products that provoke pressure fluctuations (sweets, caffeine, fatty and spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, tobacco).

After treating a mild concussion, the patient should refrain from physical labor for some time, often be in the air and allocate time for proper rest. This will prevent the development of complications, which subsequently manifest themselves in the form of excruciating headaches, dizziness, disruption of the blood vessels and brain structures.

Source: http://progolovy.ru/golovnoj-mozg/legkoe-sotryasenie-mozga

Concussion: symptoms, treatment

A concussion is one of the most common traumatic brain injuries. Its share is up to 80% of all skull injuries. Every day in Russia, according to statistics, more than 1,000 people get a concussion.

By itself, this injury does not cause structural macroscopic changes in the brain. The resulting disorders in concussion are purely functional.

A concussion does not pose a danger to a person's life.

It may seem that, in view of the ease and functionality of this injury, it can not be treated at all, and you can not resort to visiting a doctor. This is a very erroneous opinion.

A concussion, although it refers to mild traumatic brain injuries, nevertheless, being untreated, can leave behind some unpleasant consequences that can complicate the life of the patient.

From this article you can learn about the main symptoms, methods of treatment of concussion and possible consequences.

Concussion occurs more often in young people, children and adolescents. This is due to children's pranks and teenage recklessness, and in adults - road, domestic and industrial injuries.

Moreover, it should be noted that a concussion occurs not only with a direct blow to the head or a blow to the head. This injury also occurs indirectly, for example, when, having slipped, a person falls on the buttocks.

The shock wave at the same time rolls up to the skull, which can cause a concussion.

What underlies a concussion?

The very name of the injury speaks for itself: under the influence of mechanical force, the brain shakes inside the skull. At the same time, there is a temporary disconnection of the cerebral cortex with the stem (deeper lying) sections, disturbances appear in neurons at the cellular and molecular level.

There is also a spasm of blood vessels with their subsequent expansion, which means that the blood flow changes for a while. All this causes brain dysfunction and the appearance of various non-specific symptoms.

During treatment, after the normalization of processes in the brain, all functions return to normal, and the symptoms disappear.

Symptoms

A concussion is characterized by the following symptoms:

• oppression of consciousness immediately after exposure to a traumatic force. Moreover, it will not necessarily be a loss of consciousness, possibly stunning (stupor), as if incomplete consciousness. Violation of consciousness is short-term and takes from several seconds to several tens of minutes. Most often this interval is up to 5 minutes. If a person was alone at that time, then he may not report a loss of consciousness, since he may not remember this;
• impaired memory (amnesia) for the events preceding the concussion, the concussion itself and a short period of time after it. Memory is quickly restored;
• single vomiting immediately after injury. Vomiting is of cerebral origin and usually does not recur, which is used as a clinical criterion for distinguishing concussion from mild brain contusion;
• increased or slowed heart rate, increased blood pressure for some time after the injury. Usually these changes disappear on their own and do not require medical correction;
• shortness of breath immediately after a concussion. Breathing normalizes before the indicators of the cardiovascular system, so this symptom may go unnoticed;
• body temperature does not change (lack of changes is also considered a differential diagnostic criterion in relation to brain contusion);
• the so-called "game of vasomotors". This is a condition where the pallor of the skin of the face is replaced by redness. It occurs due to a violation of the tone of the autonomic nervous system.

After full recovery of consciousness, the following symptoms occur:

• headache (can be felt both at the site of impact and throughout the head, is of a different nature);
• dizziness;
• noise in ears;
• flushes of blood to the face, accompanied by a sensation of heat;
• sweating (constantly wet palms and feet);
• general weakness and malaise;
• sleep disturbance;
• staggering when walking;
• decreased concentration, rapid mental and physical fatigue;
• hypersensitivity to loud sounds and bright lights.

CM. ALSO: Symptoms of a concussion in adults

Neurological disorders occur as follows:

• pain when moving the eyeballs to the sides, inability to take the eyes to the extreme position;
• in the first hours after the injury, a slight dilation or narrowing of the pupils may be detected. Pupillary reaction to light is normal;
• slight asymmetry of tendon and skin reflexes, i.e. they are different when evoked from the left and right. Moreover, this sign is very labile, for example, during the initial examination, the right knee jerk was somewhat livelier than the left one, during a second examination after a few hours, both knee jerks were identical, but there was a difference in the Achilles reflexes;
• small horizontal nystagmus (involuntary trembling movements) in the most extreme leads of the eyeballs;
• unsteadiness in the Romberg position (legs together, straight arms extended forward to a horizontal level, eyes closed);
• there may be a slight tension of the occipital muscles, which disappears during the first 3 days.

A very important diagnostic criterion for concussion is the reversibility of all symptoms (except subjective). That is, all neurological manifestations disappear after a week. Asthenic complaints of headache, dizziness, weakness, poor memory, fatigue and so on are not included in this account, since they may persist for some time.

Also noteworthy is the fact that a concussion is never combined with skull fractures, even if they are a small crack. In the presence of a fracture of the bones of the skull, the diagnosis is always, at a minimum, a mild contusion of the brain.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis of a concussion is made by a doctor based on the data of an objective examination.

A concussion is almost entirely a clinical diagnosis, because the main criteria for making it are clinical symptoms.

Recognition of the disease is very difficult in cases where there are no witnesses to the incident. After all, most of the complaints in this state are subjective, and the patient himself does not always remember the fact of a change in consciousness.

In this case, visible damage to the head area comes to the rescue.

Additional research methods for concussion are carried out for the purpose of differential diagnosis, that is, to confirm the functionality of changes in the brain.

Because with any more severe traumatic brain injury, structural lesions are found in the brain, which does not happen with a concussion.

So, for example, if the patient has tension in the occipital muscles, which is a sign of irritation of the meninges, it becomes necessary to confirm the absence of subarachnoid hemorrhage. For this purpose, a lumbar puncture is performed.

The results of the study of the obtained cerebrospinal fluid during a concussion do not differ from normal values, which makes it possible to exclude the diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage (in which an admixture of blood is found in the cerebrospinal fluid).

Computed tomography, as the main research method for traumatic brain injuries, also does not find pathological changes in concussion, which confirms the correctness of the diagnosis. By analogy, neither MRI nor echoencephalography reveals abnormalities in concussion.

Another retrospective confirmation of the correctness of the diagnosis is the disappearance of neurological symptoms within a week from the moment of injury.

Treatment

Although a concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury, it requires mandatory treatment in a hospital.

This is due to the unpredictability of the course of the post-traumatic period, since there are situations when, against the background of signs of concussion, the patient develops an intracranial hematoma or subarachnoid hemorrhage (rarely, of course, but it is possible).

If the patient is on outpatient treatment, then the first signs of deterioration may not be noticed by him, and this is fraught with risk even for life. Round-the-clock stay in the hospital reliably provides qualified medical care throughout the entire stay.

During the first few days with a concussion, bed rest must be observed. If there are signs of improvement in the state, then the regime is expanded.

CM. ALSO: Symptoms of a concussion in a child

Medical treatment for concussion should be gentle. Basically, the appointment of symptomatic agents is required:

• painkillers to eliminate headaches (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, combined drugs like Pentalgin, Solpadein);
• means to combat dizziness (Betaserc, Vestibo, Platifillin in combination with Papaverine);
• sedatives (“calm down” the nervous system). The spectrum is quite wide depending on individual needs: from herbal extracts to tranquilizers;
• sleeping pills for insomnia;
• fortifying agents (vitamins, antioxidants, tonic preparations).

Metabolic support of the brain is carried out with the help of neuroprotectors. This is an extensive group of medicines. It can be, for example, Piracetam (Nootropil), Encephabol, Actovegin, Picamilon, Glycine, Pantogam and others.

On average, the patient has to spend in a hospital for about a week, then the patient is discharged for outpatient aftercare. In addition to symptomatic drugs, in this period, drugs are used that improve the blood supply to the brain (Cavinton, Trental, Nicergoline and a number of others).

Some patients require 1 month of taking medications for complete recovery, others - 3 months. However, in any case, if all the above points are observed, recovery occurs.

Within one year after suffering a concussion, it is required to periodically visit a neurologist for the purpose of dispensary observation.

Effects

97% of all cases of concussion end in complete recovery without consequences. In the remaining 3% of cases, the development of the so-called postconcussion syndrome (from the Latin "Commotio" - concussion) is possible.

It consists in various kinds of asthenic manifestations (weakening of memory, concentration of attention, increased irritability and anxiety, poor tolerance of any load, periodic headaches, dizziness, sleep disturbance and appetite, and so on).

Previously, according to statistics, there was a significantly larger percentage of the consequences of a concussion.

This is apparently due to the fact that there was no such method of research as computed tomography, and some cases of mild brain contusions were diagnosed as concussion.

A brain contusion is always accompanied by damage to the brain tissue, which, of course, more often has consequences than functional changes.

Thus, concussion is the most common traumatic brain injury, which, at the same time, is the easiest.

All changes in the brain are functional, and therefore completely reversible. Diagnosis is based on clinical manifestations. Treatment is carried out in a hospital with a minimum of drugs.

A concussion almost always ends in recovery.