Concussion Treatment and Recovery in New York

Introduction

What is a concussion? Van de Graaf’s Human Anato memory impairment and depression.

A concussion, by definition, is a serious injury that can create serious and long-lasting problems for the injured patient. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), concussion is the most common type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the United States.

Relevant Anatomy

The brain and spinal cord are responsible for the workings of the body. The brain is encased in a thick, durable encasement known as the cranium, while the spinal cord is surrounded by a hard column of vertebrae known as the spinal column. Additionally, three membranous connective tissue coverings known as meninges work to safeguard the nervous system from injury.

One of the most important safeguards against injury in the brain is the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds it and helps tory system by draining through venous capillaries.

Cerebrospinal fluid reduces the impact of a blow to 800 milliliters of CSF every day. However, only about 140-200 ml are guarding the nervous system at any given moment.

Diagnosis and Symptoms

Although cerebrospinal fluid, meninges, and the cranium offer limited protection against injury, they are not always able toms such as loss of memory, unconsciousness, or mental confusion.

Because the heads of growing babies are delicate and fragile, they are especially prone toms.

Infants can suffer concussion as a result of light bumps on the head. Initially it may not be obvious that the child is injured, though the most obvious indication is loss of consciousness. Other symptoms may include irritability, vomiting, and dramatic changes in sleeping or eating patterns.

Unusually long periods of silence or inactivity may also indicate head concussion. Babies suffering from concussion may be listless and insert. They may refuse to eat or play, and spend long hours in post-concussion sleep. On the other hand, they may cry continuously and inconsolably.

Perhaps most tellingly, he or she may develop a bulging of the anterior fontanelle, the soft spot at the top of the head. If this happens, the parent or guardian should consult a physician.

Symptoms of concussion in children and adolescents may include brief loss of consciousness, confusion, vertigo, headache, nausea, and anxiety or depression.

Concussion Recovery

Infants who have suffered concussions may temporarily lose the developmental skills they had most recently developed. Over time, however, they should regain these skills. For a time the child may be fussier and more irritable than usual. If the baby cries more when placed in a certain position, he or she may have developed vertigo. When this happens, the caregiver should carefully avoid placing the baby in that position for at least a few weeks. During the time of the baby’s recovery, the guardian must ensure that he or she maintains a normal and consistent schedule as fully as possible.

For children and adolescents, the best remedy for most concussions is rest. Recovery works faster when the young patient rests with regularity. This is especially critical in the first few days after injury. Initially, activity and movement must be as limited as possible. Gradually, after the symptoms get significantly worse, the guardian should seek out an emergency physician immediately.

Treatment for Concussion at the New York DNR

Although there are relatively few treatment options available for post-concussion symptoms, the New York DNR does offer several that have proven safe and effective.

Virtual reality treatment of brain injuries is one of the most powerful treatments available for patients with concussions. It works by measuring the degree of injury in a completely computer-simulated setting without actually causing further injury or exacerbating an already existing one.

One such virtual reality modality, the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (C.A.R.E.N), has been successfully used in American military hospitals as well as research universities in America and Europe. It effectively treats traumatic brain injury, stroke, and related brain conditions through immersing the patient in a virtual-reality environment that monito the physician the level of perception deficit and memory loss.