Weekly
March 14, 1997 / 46(10);224-227
Sports-Related Recurrent Brain Injuries -- United
States
An estimated 300,000 sports-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) of mild to moderate severity (1), most of
which can be classified as concussions (i.e., conditions of temporarily altered mental status as a result of head
trauma), occur in the United States each year. The proportion of these concussions that are repeat injuries is
unknown; however, there is an increased risk for subsequent TBI among persons who have had at least one
previous TBI (2,3). Repeated mild brain injuries occurring over an extended period (i.e., months or years) can
result in cumulative neurologic and cognitive deficits (4,5), but repeated mild brain injuries occurring within a
short period (i.e., hours, days, or weeks) can be catastrophic or fatal. The latter phenomenon, termed "second
impact syndrome," has been reported more frequently since it was first characterized in 1984 (6-8). This report
describes two cases of second impact syndrome and presents recommendations developed by the American
Academy of Neurology to prevent recurrent brain injuries in sports and their adverse consequences (9). Case
Reports
Case 1. During October 1991, a 17-year-old high school football player was tackled on the last play of the first
half of a varsity game and struck his head on the ground. During halftime intermission, he told a teammate that
he felt ill and had a headache; he did not tell his coach. He played again during the third quarter and received
several routine blows to his helmet during blocks and tackles. He then collapsed on the field and was taken to
a local hospital in a coma. A computed tomography (CT) brain scan revealed diffuse swelling of the brain and
a small subdural hematoma. He was transferred to a regional trauma center, where attempts to reduce elevated
intracranial pressure were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced brain dead 4 days later. Autopsy revealed
diffuse brain swelling, focal areas of subcortical ischemia, and a small subdural hematoma.
Case 2. During August 1993, a 19-year-old college football player reported headache to family members after
a full-contact practice during summer training. During practice the following day, he collapsed on the field
approximately 2 minutes after engaging in a tackle. He was transported to a nearby trauma center, where a CT
scan of the head showed diffuse brain swelling and a thin subdural hematoma. Attempts to control the elevated
intracranial pressure failed, and he was pronounced brain dead 3 days later. Autopsy revealed the brain to be
diffusely swollen with evidence of cerebrovascular congestion and features of temporal lobe herniation.
Summary of Related Data
The true incidence of second impact syndrome is unknown. During 1984-1991, four cases were described,
and during 1992-1995, a total of 17 cases were described; most cases have involved male adolescents or
young adults and involved participation in boxing, football, ice hockey, and snow skiing (8). Combined data
from four states (Colorado, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Utah) during 1990-1993 indicated an annual rate of 2.6
cases per 100,000 population of sports-related TBI that resulted in hospitalization or death; the proportion
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attributable to second impact syndrome is unknown.
Reported by: J Kelly, MD, Brain Injury Program, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Illinois. Quality
Standards Subcommittee and Task Force on Preventive Neurology, American Academy of Neurology,
Minneapolis, Minnesota. Div of Acute Care, Rehabilitation Research, and Disability Prevention, and Div of
Unintentional Injury Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC.
Editorial Note
Editorial Note: The two cases described in this report involved repeated head trauma with probable
concussions that separately might be considered mild but in additive effect were fatal. The risk for catastrophic
effects from successive, seemingly mild concussions sustained within a short period is not yet widely
recognized. Second impact syndrome results from acute, usually fatal, brain swelling that occurs when a
second concussion is sustained before complete recovery from a previous concussion. Brain swelling
apparently results from a failure of autoregulation of cerebral circulation that causes vascular congestion and
increased intracranial pressure, which may be difficult or impossible to control (7).
Population-based data are needed to define the incidence of this condition, describe causes, and identify
populations at highest risk. CDC is developing a multi-state system for TBI surveillance (10). Based on this
surveillance system, CDC, in collaboration with participating states, is developing methods to conduct
surveillance for sports-related second impact syndrome.
The risk for second impact syndrome should be considered in a variety of sports associated with likelihood of
blows to the head, including boxing, football, ice or roller hockey, soccer, baseball, basketball, and snow
skiing. The American Academy of Neurology has proposed recommendations for the management of
concussion in sports that are designed to prevent second impact syndrome and to reduce the frequency of other
cumulative brain injuries related to sports (9) (see box (
)). These recommendations define symptoms
and signs of concussion of varying severity and indicate intervals during which athletes should refrain from
sports activity following a concussion. Following head impact, athletes with any alteration of mental status,
including transient confusion or amnesia with or without loss of consciousness, should not return to activity
until examined by a health-care provider familiar with these guidelines.
Table_1
The popularity of contact sports in the United States exposes a large number of participants to risk for brain
injury. Recurrent brain injuries can be serious or fatal and may not respond to medical treatment. However,
recurrent brain injuries and second impact syndrome are highly preventable. Physicians, health and physical
education instructors, athletic coaches and trainers, parents of children participating in contact sports, and the
general public should become familiar with these recommendations.
References
1. Sosin DM, Sniezek JE, Thurman DJ. Incidence of mild and moderate brain injury in the United States,
1991. Brain Inj 1996;10:47-54.
2. Salcido R, Costich JF. Recurrent traumatic brain injury. Brain Inj 1992;6:293-8.
3. Annegers JF, Grabow JD, Kurland LT, Laws ER Jr. The incidence, causes, and secular trends of head
trauma in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1935-1974. Neurology 1980;30:912-9.
4. Jordan BD, Zimmerman RD. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging comparisons in
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Page 2 of 4
boxers. JAMA 1990;263:1670-4.
5. Gronwall D, Wrightson P. Cumulative effect of concussion. Lancet 1975;2:995-7.
6. Saunders RL, Harbaugh RE. The second impact in catastrophic contact-sports head trauma. JAMA
1984;252:538-9.
7. Kelly JP, Nichols JS, Filley CM, Lillehei KO, Rubinstein D, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK. Concussion
in sports: guidelines for the prevention of catastrophic outcome. JAMA 1991;266: 2867-9.
8. Cantu RC, Voy R. Second impact syndrome: a risk in any contact sport. Physician and Medicine
1995;23:27-34.
9. Quality Standards Subcommittee, American Academy of Neurology. Practice parameter: the
management of concussion in sports. Neurology 1997;48:581-5.
10. CDC. Traumatic brain injuries -- Colorado, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Utah, 1990-1993. MMWR
1997;46:8-11.
Table_1
Note:
To print large tables and graphs users may have to change their printer settings to landscape and use a small font
size.
Summary of Recommendations for Management of Concussion in Sports
A concussion is defined as head-trauma-induced alteration in
mental status that may or may not involve loss of consciousness.
Concussions are graded in three categories. Definitions and
treatment recommendations for each category are presented below.
Grade 1 Concussion
-- Definition: Transient confusion, no loss of consciousness, and
a duration of mental status abnormalities of less than 15
minutes.
-- Management: The athlete should be removed from sports
activity, examined immediately and at 5-minute intervals, and
allowed to return that day to the sports activity only if
postconcussive symptoms resolve within 15 minutes. Any athlete
who incurs a second Grade 1 concussion on the same day should be
removed from sports activity until asymptomatic for 1 week.
Grade 2 Concussion
-- Definition: Transient confusion, no loss of consciousness, and
a duration of mental status abnormalities of greater than or
equal to 15 minutes.
-- Management: The athlete should be removed from sports activity
and examined frequently to assess the evolution of symptoms, with
more extensive diagnostic evaluation if the symptoms worsen or
persist for greater than 1 week. The athlete should return to
sports activity only after asymptompatic for 1 full week. Any
athlete who incurs a Grade 2 concussion subsequent to a Grade 1
concussion on the same day should be removed from sports activity
until asymptomatic for 2 weeks.
Grade 3 Concussion
-- Definition: Loss of consciousness, either brief (seconds) or
prolonged (minutes or longer).
-- Management: The athlete should be removed from sports activity
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**Questions or messages regarding errors in formatting should be addressed to
.
for 1 full week without symptoms if the loss of consciousness is
brief or 2 full weeks without symptoms if the loss of
consciousness is prolonged. If still unconscious or if abnormal
neurologic signs are present at the time of initial evaluation,
the athlete should be transported by ambulance to the nearest
hospital emergency department. An athlete who suffers a second
Grade 3 concussion should be removed from sports activity until
asymptomatic for 1 month. Any athlete with an abnormality on
computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging brain scan
consistent with brain swelling, contusion, or other intracranial
pathology should be removed from sports activities for the season
and discouraged from future return to participation in contact
sports.
Source: Quality Standards Subcommittee, American Academy of
Neurology.
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