Handling head injuries in young athletes

Parents of young athletes in California may be interested to learn about updated guidelines released by the American Academy of Neurology for managing head injuries. These guidelines received the update in 2013 but had not been changed since they were established in 1997.

According to the new protocols, the AAN suggests that the care and treatment of student athlete head injuries should be more conservative because these younger players may be subjected to prolonged symptoms and decreased neurocognitive performance. Because of this, athletes who suffer a concussion must be removed from play immediately. However, evidence does not suggest that absolute rest is necessary after the injury occurs.

In addition, they may not be allowed back into the game unless a professional has assessed their condition. In many cases, the Standardized Assessment of Concussion, a symptom checklist and other methods might help diagnoses and manage the injuries, but they should not be used exclusively for diagnosis. In addition, licensed health professionals should also provide assistance by monitoring the ongoing symptoms and reviewing the patient’s history of concussions.

While taking steps to prevent additional damage after a concussion can be important, the initial damage of the injury may still present a number of difficulties for the victim and their family. Serious injuries might require extended hospital treatment and ongoing specialized care, and these types of services may represent a heavy burden on a family’s finances. However, in cases where the injury was caused due to the negligence of another party, a family might try to recover those financial damages in court. By filing an action against the allegedly liable party, plaintiffs could receive compensation for losses stemming from the injury.