Concussion

About Concussion

The brain is cushioned within the skull and has limited freedom to shift slightly. When the head experiences an impact, this movement can result in the brain being jolted — a condition known as concussion. Common causes of concussion include road traffic collisions, sports-related impacts, accidental falls, and physical altercations.

A concussion leads to a general but short-term disruption of the brain’s usual functioning. While it affects consciousness temporarily, it typically does not result in permanent brain injury. The individual may briefly lose consciousness or experience confusion, but in most cases, this clears up within minutes, with the person making a full recovery. It’s important to note that a confirmed diagnosis of concussion is generally only made once full recovery has occurred.

Anyone who has sustained a concussion should be closely observed and advised to seek medical attention if symptoms such as headaches, blurred vision, or confusion emerge later on.

Mechanism of Concussion

Concussion usually occurs as a result of a blow to the head. This “shakes” the brain within the skull, resulting in a temporary disturbance of brain function.

Look for:

Brief period of impaired consciousness

There may also be:

Dizziness or nausea on recovery
Loss of memory of events at the time of, or immediately preceding, the injury.
Mild, generalised headache.

STEP 1: TREAT THE CASUALTY FOR IMPAIRED CONSCIOUSNESS

Assess the casualty’s level of consciousness by checking their level of response to stimuli using the AVPU code:

A – Is the casualty Alert? Does he open his eyes and respond to questions?

V – Does the caualty respond to Voice? Does he answer simple questions and obey commands?

P – Does the casualty respond to Pain?

U – Is the casualty Unresponsive to any stimulus?

If the person is “groggy” but responds to sound or pain, support them in a comfortable, resting position and watch for any change in their level of response.

STEP 2: PERFORM THE FLASHLIGHT TEST

The pupillary light reflex (PLR), the pupils’ constriction in response to light, can be affected by concussion.
A basic neurological check for signs of concussion is to shine a low-beam flashlight from the side of each eye toward the centre.
The pupils should respond by quickly shrinking (constricting) when exposed to the light. If the pupils react slowly, it could indicate a potential brain injury.

STEP 3: MONITOR AND RECORD VITAL SIGNS

While waiting for medical help to arrive, monitor and record vital signs – level of response, pulse, and breathing. Treat any associated injuries.