Concussion is considered mild head injury, which in this case could lead to a large number of long-term complications in the absence of proper treatment. Symptoms of this condition in adults require careful and timely intervention of a specialist.
Concussion refers to a form of closed craniocerebral trauma. It is believed that it results in a reversible disruption of connections between neurons. In many cases, when it is shaken person loses consciousness, then complains of pain in the head and vertigo.
Occurring at the same time contact skull with brain substance has the following consequences:
- change some of the properties of brain cells;
- separation existing between the synapse connections (which can lead to a number of functional disorders);
- pathological effects on the brain substance.
The content of the article:
- 1 The causes of concussion
- 2 The symptoms and severity
- 3 Diagnostics
- 4 First aid
- 5 Treatment of concussion
- 6 Preparations for the treatment of
- 7 Consequences, complications and prognosis
- 8 Video about the treatment of concussion
The causes of concussion
Signs concussion an adult usually appear at focal bruises, bumps or careless movements.
Most often this occurs:
- sports injuries;
- accidents at work or in the domestic environment;
- during an accident;
- under criminal circumstances.
The symptoms and severity
Depending on the symptoms and severity of the condition, the following degrees of shaking distinguished:
- Easy. The man is not disturbed consciousness, but a slight disorientation may occur, nausea, dizziness within 20 minutes. In some cases, a short-term hyperthermia. Then it is stabilized.
- Average. The person remains conscious, but is faced with a headache, dizziness, nausea and loss of orientation. The symptoms persist for more than 20 minutes. Characterized by short-term amnesia, which usually occurs when forgetting a few minutes of the event.
- Heavy. Always there is a loss of consciousness, often with retrograde amnesia. Upon receipt of injury victim concerned dizziness, disturbed sleep or appetite, and other pathological symptoms that persist for a long time.
It is important to bear in mind that even a minor injury can lead to this situation, that is, the fact of what happened on the likelihood of injury says concussions.
The key elements belong:
- like a pulsating headache;
- occurrence of tinnitus;
- violation of lucidity;
- a feeling of weakness;
- slowing of speech, its incoherence;
- dizziness provoked by improper blood flow in the vestibular apparatus;
- split in the eyes, pain when trying to read;
- nausea, vomiting, a one-time event;
- increase susceptibility to noise (not even very loud sounds begin to annoy);
- photophobia (unusually strong reaction to the standard level of illumination);
- deterioration of motor coordination.
In order to identify a concussion can be carried out a quick test, suggesting the victim is not looking to touch the nose with the index finger of the hand in a standing position.
The second option: to move in small steps on a flat line blindly, with hands pointing upward. Both checks can not produce on their own, as there is a risk of re-injury.
Diagnostics
Symptoms of concussion in the adult allow the doctor to make a diagnosis based on the clinical picture. It specifies whether there was a blow to the head or head and loss of consciousness.
Also takes into account the following features:
- during the first hours can be observed a minor change in the pupil width direction of decreasing or increasing, and their sensitivity to light is normal;
- pain in the translation look;
- when you try to look away in extreme positions begins involuntary trembling;
- instability in the Romberg position;
- slight tension neck muscles (usually it goes "out" after 3 days);
- presence of asymmetry skin and tendon reflexes (variable sign).
Concussion is diagnosed based on the patient's complaint, the information gathered about the accident and the period during which there was no consciousness, inspection specialist neurologist and assigned them analyzes.
Of great importance is the victim a long observation as more serious diseases can manifest themselves very similar symptoms. If diagnosed correctly, the deviations that were initially identified, fully tested after 3-7 days.
If it was received traumatic brain injury, compulsorily performed X-rays, by which you can identify skull fractures. Hidden Brain injuries can be avoided by studying the state of the fundus, echoencephalography and electroencephalography.
MRI and CT scans do not reveal any violations that could occur in the structure of tissues, so the best of the modern methods of diagnosis is considered neuroimaging. It allows you to detect swelling or bleeding, and in this case should be treated the injury, not a concussion.
First aid
Symptoms of concussion in adults require urgent medical emergencies, especially if there was a loss of consciousness. It should be immediately put a man on the right side, on a sufficiently solid, flat surface, bending his limbs.
Head at the same time you need to send up and slightly to the side, it will help prevent flooding and ensure the possibility of a normal breath.
If there is bleeding, possible overlaps hemostatic bandage. If the person remains conscious or have regained consciousness, it must be put in a horizontal position with a slightly raised his head to help him stay awake.
Anyone affected should contact the emergency room, even if the state seems completely normal and stable. The physician may send a trauma to inspect to a specialist or hospitalized in neurology department to carry out a thorough diagnosis.
In a situation where the victim does not respond to external stimuli, and can not be sufficiently determine exactly what the severity of an injury he received, it is better not to try to touch and flip it. At the same time, if there are factors that may threaten his life, should be to eliminate them before going emergency room doctors.
Symptoms of concussion in the adult requires careful attention to the victim.
Contraindicated to take the following measures in the provision of first aid:
- attempts to bring the human senses through a physical impact or noise;
- attachment to the injured part of the head compresses and lotions;
- application analgesic medications;
- moving or transporting the patient, if there is a threat to life, deteriorating;
- creation of fuss and bother about the victim;
- offer the patient a drink or food (can lead to vomiting or aggravate manifestation of symptoms).
When the medical team to arrive, you should tell doctors about all perfect observations, some events that manifest themselves at the victim concussion symptoms. With this professionals can save time on diagnosis and choose the most appropriate treatment.
Treatment of concussion
Regardless of whether the injury seems minor, need to take the victim to hospital. Patients experiencing acute phase of disease, treatment tested in the Department of Neurosurgery. The most important aspect is to comply with bed rest.
In view of the clinical course, recommended rest time may be increased. If there are no complications, the victim is discharged from the hospital about a week, but the out-patient treatment should be continued up to 2 weeks.
After such an injury a person needs a normal rest and sleep, avoiding stress of any kind (including those related to mental overload), especially during the first few days.
If the victim is not to self, do not ignore the advice of a doctor and treatment was initiated in a timely manner, in the majority of cases, the situation ends with the complete restoration of health and return health.
At the same time, some patients over the long term there are still some residual effects of a concussion.
Among them, most often observed:
- irritability and fatigue;
- deterioration of ability to concentrate;
- memory problems;
- disorder depressive character;
- sleep disorders;
- pain in the head.
Headaches - the main symptom of concussion
Described symptoms are usually alleviated after 12 months from the date of injury, but in rare cases they persist, continuing to manifest themselves throughout their lives.
Drug therapy is considered to be minor, but it is assigned to all the victims for the purpose of early recovery, overall health, leveling symptoms and prevent possible complications.
Preparations for the treatment of
Medical treatment for cerebral concussion include drugs of the following groups:
- Painkillers.
- Nootropics.
- Vasotropic means.
- Diuretics.
- Sedatives.
- Tranquilizers.
- Vitamins.
As medicaments are usually selected drugs that reduce pain in the skull improving brain blood circulation, relieving nausea and dizziness.
Simultaneously with this drug can be used with neuroprotective properties capable of improving brain function. In some situations shown sedative-hypnotics. In the process of rehabilitation doctor may prescribe nootropics and fortifying agents.
When dizziness doctors usually prescribed herbal extracts of Ginkgo biloba or belladonna, ergotoxine. As sedatives may be used motherwort or valerian.
Insomnia, if indicated, treated fenozepama, Medazepamom or oxazepam. Shaking Grade 3 requires conducting vascular neurometabolic magnesium therapy with drugs and antioxidants.
Within 1 month after concussion is recommended to give up heavy physical labor and to limit any exercise. Absolutely contraindicated violation of the sleep and rest. stay should be possible to reduce the monitor PC and watching television. It is useful to listen to calm music without using headphones.
Consequences, complications and prognosis
In most cases, early symptoms goes "out" for 2-3 days, sometimes - a few weeks, but sometimes persists for a long period of time and is accompanied by complications. Approximately 10-20% of trauma symptoms persist for 2-3 months.
Great influence on the recovery period can have a patient's overall health, as well as his age. In people older than 55 years of recovery takes a longer period than in younger.
Several factors can complicate the situation, it includes:
- mental disorders in history;
- prolonged depression;
- excessive alcohol use, abuse of tobacco smoking;
- stress state;
- comorbidities.
concussion happened once can affect the physical and mental activity of man, cause the loss of the temporary memory. If you run a state, the symptoms may persist and occasionally manifest themselves up to 3 years or more.
Signs of a concussion, manifested in the adult as well as the severity of injury, can have an impact on future health. If the injury was repeated, this can lead to frustration, which is typical for some people because of their professional activities.
Post-traumatic encephalopathy, which may develop on the background of a concussion, characterized staggering, temporary loss of balance, slight lag response of one of the limbs other.
Some victims are identified:
- confusion;
- psychical deviations;
- lethargy;
- tremor of the limbs and head.
This type of injury considered to be easy, but the consequences are not only serious, but also carrying a health risk.
following signs refer to them:
| The incidence of | evidence |
| quite common | Heightened emotionality, outbursts of anger, aggression and irritability. Post-concussion syndrome, which manifests sudden paroxysmal pain in the head, insomnia, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating. |
| are rare |
Health-related vascular disorders:
Inadequate response to infection or the use of alcohol. These conditions cause the patient ways to various deviations of mental character, dizziness. |
| Extremely rare |
Cramps, similar in its manifestations with the seizures of epilepsy. Paranoid condition in which the patient all the time haunted anxiety and fear. |
Since such trauma often occurs as a result of an accident, it is not easy to prevent. 
Of great importance is the protection of the skull when doing certain sports and performing work in hazardous occupations. Certain sports require the mandatory wearing of helmets (riding a motorcycle, a bicycle, rollerblading, skateboarding, playing baseball or hockey).
With the high rate with this type of injury faced by motorists, so it is important to wear. To prevent such a situation at home is recommended to make sure that the walkways and corridors of the apartments have been exempt from things and accidentally spilled liquids without delay wipes.
In adults, symptoms of concussion can not be ignored, even if the victim thinks that the injury was not serious. Complete and most rapid recovery possible only with timely diagnosis and adequate treatment.
In addition, only the use of modern methods of investigation and examination of a qualified physician will allow eliminate more severe brain damage that can lead to a number of complications that threaten the health and life.
Registration of the article: Vladimir the Great
Video about the treatment of concussion
Symptoms and treatment of concussion:
