Most concussions are classified as a form of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). A concussion occurs when a direct blow to the head causes the brain to collide with the skull. Most people who experience a concussion recover, but the brain must be given time to rest and heal properly. In the US, 80% to 90% of all traumatic brain injury cases constitute mild TBI (concussions). In cases of mild TBI, one or more weeks of rest is typically the only treatment and most patients fully recover.
However, mild traumatic brain injury is not a minor injury to be taken lightly. Those who experience a mild concussion are typically more susceptible to subsequent brain injuries. If the brain is not given adequate rest to heal properly, lasting effects may result. Additionally, even a mild traumatic brain injury may yield painful symptoms lasting beyond two weeks, referred to as post-concussive syndrome (PCS). Patients who experience PCS require a longer time period to recover.
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Defined
The American Congress of Rehabilitation (1995) defines mild TBI as a traumatically induced physiologic disruption of brain function with at least one of four manifestations:
- Any loss of consciousness (LOC)
- Any loss of memory for events immediately before or after the injury
- Any alteration in mental status at the time of the accident
- Focal neurological deficits that may or may not be transient
Usually, mild traumatic brain injury has negative radiological findings (CT/MRI) and the injury cannot exceed the following criteria in order to be classified as “mild”:
- Loss of consciousness greater than 30 minutes
- Post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) greater than 24 hours
- Initial Glasgow Coma Scale score less than or equal to 12 (13 to 15)
Issues with Diagnosing Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
With an ever-increasing awareness of concussions and brain injury, more patients who experience symptoms are seeking medical assistance. However, there have been cases in which doctors fail to recognize mild traumatic brain injuries and send the patient home undiagnosed.
Mild concussions typically do not share the tell-tale signs of a serious brain injury, such as loss of consciousness or memory loss. A patient may simply complain of headaches or minor confusion – which could manifest for other reasons. Additionally, a patient may not recall hitting his/her head. Connecting the symptoms with an accident or other case of a blow to the head often means the difference of diagnosing a traumatic brain injury.
If a patient is sent home, he/she should pay close attention to the symptoms. If he/she hit his/her head or was jarred (like in a car crash), there may still be a minor traumatic brain injury present. If you suspect you may have a mild concussion, get plenty of rest over the next several days and avoid “busy” schedules and stress. If symptoms don’t subside, see a different doctor for a second opinion – but also keep resting so your brain can heal.
Effects of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury / Concussion
In most cases of mild TBI, patients experience minor symptoms. Immediate and potentially ongoing symptoms of a mild concussion may include one or more of the following:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Temporary confusion
- Short-term/temporary memory loss
- Temporary difficulty forming a complete or relevant sentence
- Abnormal urge/desire to sleep
Significance of Recovery from a Mild Concussion
A recent study compared brain scans from concussion patients with scans from a group of normal, healthy individuals. The scans were taken one year after the occurrence of injury. The concussion scans revealed indications of brain damage in parts of the brain directly associated with mood disorders and depression. The probability of experiencing long-term complications increases in cases where the person does not allow the brain adequate time to heal. Properly diagnosing and treating a mild traumatic brain injury is essential to a brain’s healthy future functionality.
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