Concussion Care Manual

This is a practical manual for clinicians who take care of patients with concussions. The long-term effects of concussions are an increasingly recognized problem in the medical community and by the general public. Most people recover well from concussions, but a substantial minority does not. However, most clinicians do not have specific training in how to evaluate and treat concussion patients who do not make a rapid and complete recovery. This manual, based on the experience of the director of the concussion clinic at Washington University in St Louis, provides specific step-by-step guidance for managing a variety of problems related to complex concussions: making an accurate diagnosis, general treatment strategies, headaches, sleep disruption, attention deficit, mood instability, anxiety and depression, post-traumatic stress, personality change, balance problems, dizziness, fatigue etc. Furthermore, there are specific sections on return to work, return to driving, return to school and return to contact sports. Finally, the manual includes information on special topics, such as concussion in adolescents, children, contact sport athletes, military personnel, and patients involved in medico-legal matters. The manual is written for clinicians with a broad range of backgrounds: primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, athletic trainers, emergency medicine doctors, neurologists, neurosurgeons, psychiatrists, and rehabilitation medicine physicians should all be able to use the manual effectively. There is information on how to set up a specialty concussion clinic, and an extensive list of internet-based resources related to concussion. A list of other publications is provided to point to additional detailed information beyond what a pocket-sized 'on-the-fly' manual can provide.

Autorentext

David L. Brody, MD PhD Associate Professor of Neurology Washington University School of Medicine

Inhalt

Introduction Part I: Concussion Management: The Big Picture 1. What is a Concussion? 2. How Do You Make the Diagnosis? 3. Diagnosis of Sport Concussion 4. Which Problems Do You Address First? 5. General Treatment Strategies Part II: Specific Topics 6. Headaches 7. Sleep Disruption 8. Attention Deficit 9. Mood Instability 10. Anxiety and Depression 11. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 12. Personality Change 13. Balance Problems 14. Dizziness 15. Fatigue 16. Excessive Sleepiness 17. Memory Impairment 18. Executive Dysfunction 19. Parkinsonism 20. Blurry Vision 21. Hearing Problems 22. Smell and Taste Problems 23. Sexual Dysfunction 24. Seizures 25. Psychosis 26. Return to Work 27. Return to Driving 28. Return to School 29. Return to Contact Sports 30. When is it Safe to Fly or Travel to High Altitude? 31. Medico-legal Aspects of Concussion 32. Special Topics in Adolescents 33. Special Topics in Children 34. Special Topics in Contact Sport Athletes and Others with Multiple Concussions 35. Special Topic in Military Personnel Part III: How to Set Up and Run a Concussion Clinic 36. Staffing 37. Typical Flow for a Concussion Clinic 38. Return Visit Times Appendix: Additional Resources Internet-based resources Concussion-related Scales and Scores Additional Publications for More Detailed Information