Concussion Tool Kit
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its physician tool kit in hopes of better assessment, diagnosis, and management of concussions. Included in the update is the Acute Concussion Evaluation (ACE), an assessment tool to help physicians detect suspected concussions in their initial evaluation.
According to Dr. Jean Langlois, one of the toolkit’s authors, “Recent research has shown that diagnosing mild TBIs as soon as possible is critically important because without proper management, recovery can take longer, and people who are still recovering are at higher risk of having a second, more serious injury. We believe that the ACE assessment tool will provide a needed diagnostic tool for physicians because it provides the most up-to-date information on how to recognize and treat concussion.”
Concussions, often referred to as mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBI), are by far the most common form of traumatic brain injury. The CDC estimates that 75-90% of all TBI are of the mild type. However, just because a TBI is mild does not mean there will not be serious consequences. According to the American Academy of Neurology, permanent brain injury can occur if the acute symptoms of concussion last for more than 15 minutes. Furthermore, concussions can lead to future problems, such as amnesia and post-concussion syndrome, as well as increasing the risk of stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.
The Heads Up: Brain Injury in Your Practice tool kit is available free of charge, by clicking here.
To read the entire CDC press release, click here.
