June 2012 · Vol. 61, No. 06: 323-328Sports concussion: A return-to-play guide
These evaluative methods can help you optimize a patient’s treatment and return to activity.
Aaron
M.
Lear,
MD, CAQAkron General Sports Medicine, Akron General Center for Family Medicine, Akron, Ohio
aaron.lear@akrongeneral.org Minh-Ha
Hoang,
DOAkron General Center for Family Medicine, Akron, Ohio
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PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS
• Prohibit sports participation as long as a patient exhibits concussive symptoms after a head injury. C
• Evaluate a patient’s balance and cognitive function to help gauge the severity of concussion and the likely delay in a return to sports activity. C
• Use a stepwise protocol in returning an asymptomatic patient to full sports activity. C
Strength of recommendation (SOR)
A Good-quality patient-oriented evidence
B Inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence
C Consensus, usual practice, opinion, disease-oriented evidence, case series
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The authors reported no potential conflict of interest relevant to this article.
CASE KD is an 18-year-old high school basketball player who was knocked backwards during a game, hitting her head on the floor. She had immediate head and neck pain but no loss of consciousness; she was transported by EMS to the local emergency department (ED) for further evaluation. Results of head and neck CT scans were normal, and she was discharged home. Four days later, KD’s parents brought her to our office because she was experiencing ongoing headache, phonophobia, nausea, light-headedness, poor balance, increased sleepiness, and irritability.
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