2024 NHFS concussion Exam Questions with Correct Answers

NHFS concussion incidences of concussions - Answer --30% of all concussions in individuals between 5 to 19 are sports related -highest sports : football, wrestling, girls/boys soccer and girls basketball -game concussion are higher than practice definition of concussion - Answer --a complex pathophysiological process affecting the brain induced by traumatic biomechanical forces -concussion may result in neuropathological changes but the acute clinical symptoms largely reflect a functional disturbance rather than a structural injury external forces may include any of the following events: - Answer --the head being struck by an object -the head striking an object, the brain undergoing an acceleration/deceleration movement without direct external trauma to the head -a foreign body penetrating the brain, forces generated from events such as a blast or explosion, or other force yet to be defined concussions occur when - Answer -linear and/or rotational forces are transmitted to the brain causing the "neurometabolic cascade" neurometabolic cascade - Answer --release of excitatory neurotransmitters -increase in amounts of ATP -increase in glucose metabolism -decrease in cerebral blood flow -decrease in oxygen metabolism -spike in potassium causes the dulling effect and that takes time to regulate diffuse axonal injury - Answer -most frequent head injury -occurs from shearing, stretching or traction on small nerves leading to poor axonal transport, focal swelling and possible axonal disconnection head injuries - Answer --diffuse axonal injury (most common) -contusion -subdural hemorrhage second impact syndrome - Answer --rare condition -onset of second concussion before completely healing from the initial -rapid swelling of brain tissue -signs/symptoms: dilated pupils, loss of eye movement, respiratory failure, death age recovery rates change - Answer -prof athlete = 1 day college = 7 days high school = 10 -26 days youth = 30 days ` post concussion protocol - Answer -there is none, individualized approach PA law with concussion - Answer -must be removed from play, cleared by medical professional, and educated prior to return to play risk factors - migraine Hx & current complaints - Answer --no association has been shown between pre existing migraine and prolonged course -however, post "migraine symptom complex" had a longer recovery risk factors - prior concussions - Answer -2-5.8 times higher risk of sustaining another concussion, conflicting evidence on recovery course risk factors - number, severity, and recovery length - Answer -increases in any of these are predictors for a prolonged recovery -*dizziness sideline is a predictor of recovery greater than 21 days risk factors - mood disorders - Answer -pre-exisiting or result will complicate diagnosis and management -17 to 46% oh high school and college athletes have symptoms of anxiety, depression, or irritability - no evidence that pre existing mood disorders predispose athletes to concussion