Traumatic Brain Injury, TBI - A Silent Epidemic in Youth Sports?
Even a minor sports-related concussion can cause TBI, Traumatic Brain Injury!
"Each year in the United States, an estimated 3.8
million athletes sustain sports-related concussions and 1.4 million
people sustain a TBI, which is 8 times the number of people diagnosed
with breast cancer and 34 times the number of new cases of HIV/AIDS. The majority of sports and recreation-related concussions each year happen at the high school level..." Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
"Brain
injury is the leading killer and disabler of children. If a disease
were killing our children in the proportions that brain injuries are,
people would be outraged and demand that this killer be stopped..." Source: Former Surgeon General Everett Koop, MD.
"Children may be more likely to suffer long-term deficits than adults in the event of a concussion. Concussions
are not only more prevalent than people think, they can be more
dangerous than people expect as well, particularly for younger players..."
Source: Dr. Melvin Field and associates, University of Pittsburgh.
“An explosion of scientific research over the past decade has taught us more about mild traumatic brain injury or concussion than we have ever known, including the knowledge that mismanagement of even seemingly mild concussions can lead to serious consequences in young athletes...” Source: Dr. Lovell, UPMC
“Our findings have several implications for understanding the recovery process after sports-related concussions. Although the results of this study must be considered preliminary, fMRI represents an important evolving technology that is providing further insight now for safe return-to-play decisions in young athletes and may help shape guidelines in the future...” Source: Michael Collins, Ph.D., UPMC.
Here's how you can help S.A.V.E a Kids Life! (Safety, Awareness, Vision, Education)
Children may be more likely to suffer long-term deficits than adults in the event of a concussion.
Concussions
are not only more prevalent than people think, they can be more
dangerous than people expect as well, particularly for younger players.
A recent study published by Dr. Melvin Field and associates at
the University of Pittsburgh (The Journal of Pediatrics, May 2003)
concludes that high school students recover from concussions more
slowly than college students. In particular, Dr. Field states, "The
observation that a diffuse and more prolonged cerebral swelling can
occur after TBI in children relative to adults suggests that children
may be at a greater risk for secondary intracranial hypertension and
ischemia. A more diffuse and prolonged cerebral swelling could also
lead to a delayed recovery period and may make the adolescent more
susceptible to a permanent or severe neurological deficit should they
be re-injured during this recovery period."Basically, this means that
children may be more likely to suffer long-term deficits than adults in
the event of a concussion".
March 7, 2003 --- "Phone rings. It's from the
hospital. The voice tells me that my child suffered TBI, Traumatic
Brain Injury during her soccer practice. 'Can I talk to her, please?'
The voice says ' I am very sorry, but she is in Coma. Please come to
the emergency room as soon as possible'. I am frightened. I can barely
breathe. I arrive at the emergency room. Most questions I have go
unanswered. I am told just 'wait and see'. I spent 6 days next to her
hospital bed in the intensive care unit. My story has a happy ending.
My daughter is a survivor. It is a miracle!
In less than a year from the accident, she is playing soccer again.
Even though our case ends happily, many other cases do not. Head injury
daunts the sports community.
"P.S. I read your
webpage and was impressed with how you have incorporated brain injury
prevention into your work. Very much needed in sports. In fact, I just
interviewed a kid who was practicing before a football game and
collided with someone else, they acted o.k. so the coach had them play
the game and they then suffered a hemorrhage and nearly died. Thanks
for doing that!"
