Concussion in Sports - What Trauma/Orthopedic Surgeons Need to Know

Concussion in sport is often underdiagnosed with the potential risk of long-term sequelae. This article presents the mechanisms, the underlying pathophysiology and typical primary signs and symptoms. The recognition and resulting medical measures including the present recommendations and decisions on return to play are described. The majority of patients with concussion present with clinical and cognitive symptoms only for short time intervals. As a rule a complete subjective recovery is observed within a few hours or days. Although neurocognitive impairments can persist in individual cases, they also show a good tendency to heal. Thus, after 1 year nearly all patients no longer have any relevant disorders. In a few cases long-term disturbances can occur in the presence of certain risk factors and/or after repetitive concussion. Unspecific symptoms and some cognitive impairments are the main reported problems; however, there is also a potential but individually unpredictable risk of developing neurodegenerative alterations and diseases.