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On-Field Assessment & Management of the Neurologically Injured Athlete
Advances In Clinical Neuroscience Practice
Oregon Neurosciences Institute- Sacred Heart Medical Center
May 14, 2012
Grace M. Golden, PhD, ATC, CSCS Department of Human Physiology
University of Oregon
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Sports-Related Concussion
Sports-Related Spine Trauma F O C U S
T O D A Y
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Emergency Room
Partnerships in delivery of acute care
Athlete
Team Physician
Available Athletic
Medicine Team
Paramedic/EMT
Athletic Trainer
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Partnerships in delivery of return to play decisions
Athlete
Team Physician
Athletic Trainer
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Before the injury happens…..
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Plan-Prepare-Practice-Provide
Andersen et al. JAT 2002
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Prepare Emergency
Action Plan
UO Libraries Digital Collections
Golden, 2011
www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/2011-01-13/oregon-set-open-new-arena
CONSIDER
Venue Sport/
Equipment Needs
Personnel
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Communicate EAP Procedures to Local
Emergency Medical Personnel
PRE-SEASON
PRE-GAME
Adapted; Flicker.com, seanfderry-studenna’s photostream
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Review and practice procedures relative to EAP
University of South Florida On-Field Simulation (http://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/health/now/?p=20647)
IDEAL SCENARIO
= PRE-SEASON SIMULATION
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Educate Coaches & Players
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Implement the Emergency Action Plan
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Sports-Related Spine Trauma
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History
1998 Inter-Association
Task Force for Appropriate Care of the Spine Injured Athlete
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Current Standards of Care for Athletic Trainers
Swartz et al. JAT, 2009
Casa et al. JAT, 2012
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Sideline Evaluation On-the-Field Evaluation
Differential Diagnosis
Brachial Plexus Cervical Spine Trauma
Differential Diagnosis
(Cervical) Spine Trauma Brachial Plexus Injury
Closed Head Injury
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Unconsciousness/altered consciousness
Bilateral neurological findings
Significant cervical spine pain (w/ with or w/o palpation)
Obvious spinal column deformity
Clinical Indicators of Catastrophic Cervical Spine Injury
Swartz et al. JAT, 2009; Sanchez et al. Spin Cond., 2005
c
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Subjective
Pain + Numbness Anxiety
Assessment of Cervical Spine
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Objective
Palpation (doorbell sign) *Glasgow Coma Scale < 8
Myotomes- Isometric > Isodynamic Dermatomes
Deep Tendon Reflexes
Assessment of Cervical Spine
*Holly et al. J Neurosurg., 2002
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Stabilization
Manual cervical immobilization
Neutral Alignment
Manual Re-alignment
Ø Traction
Suspect Cervical Spine Injury?
Swartz et al. JAT, 2009
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Airway
Easily Accessible?
Yes- provision of immobilization device
No- Prepare for access while maintaining stabilization
Swartz et al. JAT, 2009
Suspect Cervical Spine Injury?
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Access to airway- Equipment Considerations
3-6 Volt Reversible Cordless Drill
Clip/Loop cutter (FMxtractor)
Quick-release loop tool (Manufacturer specific)
Facemask removal appropriate regardless of level of consciousness
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Helmet Removal?
Football and Lacrosse Helmets are not removed for transport unless the shoulder pads must be removed.
Personnel must be familiar with how to manage shoulder pad removal while maintaining spine stabilization
Improving the culture for ATCs and EMTs on-the-field
Waninger & Swartz, CSMR, 2011
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Helmet removal without shoulder pad removal influences cervical spine position
Sherbondy et al. AJSM, 2006
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Swartz et al. JAT, 2009
To log roll or not log roll?
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Transfer techniques on-the-field
Log Roll
4-5 rescuers
⇑ Universal Familiarity
Leads to greater axial rotation, lateral flexion in unstable spine,
even with cervical collar*
Only option with prone patient
Del Rossi et al., 2003, 2004, 2008; Horodyski et al. Trauma, 2011
6+ Person Lift & Slide
6-7 rescuers
⇓ Universal Familiarity
Reduces cervical and thoracolumbar spine motion
compared to log roll*
Standard of Care for Football if Athletic Medicine Team Available
Requires more practice
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6 + person lift & slide
Provision of cervical spine stabilization
Bilateral position of
rescuers at shoulders, hips, legs
Rescuer prepared to
slide spine board
Command directed rescuer lift 6+ inches off
ground
Spine board positioned underneath athlete
Command directed rescuer lowering of
athlete to spine board
Appropriate head stabilization and
strapping, prepare for transportation
Swartz et al. JAT, 2009
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High School Small College/University
Division I- Olympic Sports
Collegiate/Pro Football
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Sports-Related Concussion
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Current Standards of Care for Athletic Trainers
Guskiewicz et al. JAT, 2004
McCrory et al. SAJSM, 2009
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Not ‘just’ a football injury
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Trending upward
7% average annual increase in concussions for NCAA athletes from 1998-2004
5-18% of injuries in collegiate athletes are concussions (sport dependent)
13% of high school injuries are concussions (RIO database)
Improved identification of the concussed athlete and awareness of the implications of the injury
Hootman et al. JAT, 2007, Marar et al. AJSM, 2012
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Everyone treated the same!
“All athletes, regardless of level of participation should be managed using the same treatment and return-to-play
paradigm.”
McCrory et al., SAJSM, 2009
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Obvious vs. Subtle Signs and Symptoms
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Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 1
McCrory et al. 2009
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Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2
Symptom Score = Yes-No /22
Symptom Severity = Symptom score x 6
Symptoms worse with
physical activity?
Symptoms worse with mental activity?
Headache
“Pressure in head”
Nausea or vomiting
Dizziness
Blurred vision
Balance problems
Sensitivity to light
Sensitivity to noise
Feeling slowed down
Feeling like “in a fog”
“Don’t feel right”
Difficulty concentrating
Difficulty remembering
Fatigue or low energy
Confusion
Drowsiness
Trouble falling asleep (if applicable)
More emotional
Irritability
Sadness
Nervous or anxious
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Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2
Loss of consciousness Y/N
How long?
Associated balance problems Y/N
Physical Signs Score
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Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2
Best Eye Response (1-4)
Best Verbal Response (1-5)
Best Motor Response (1-6)
Total / 15
Glasgow coma scale
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Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2
“I am going to ask you a few questions, please listen carefully and give
your best effort.”
At what venue are we at today? Which half is it now?
Who scored last in the match? What team did you play last week? Did your team win the last game?
Sideline Maddocks Score ( Total / 5)
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Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2
Cognitive Assessment
Orientation (Total/5)
What month is it? What is the date
today? What is the day of the
week? What year is it?
What time is it right now (w/i 1 hr)?
Immediate Memory (Recall) (Total/15)
Elbow Apple Carpet Saddle Bubble
Evaluated 3x
Concentration Digits Backwards
4-9-3 3-8-1-4
6-2-9-7-1 7-1-8-4-6-2
Months in Reverse
Dec-Nov-Oct-Sept……
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Modified-Customized Considerations
Balance
+ Rhomberg (Tandem Stance) Balance Error Scoring System (BESS)
Pronator Drift
Physical Exertion
Agility Vestibular Challenges (up-downs)
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Suspected Concussion?
Removal from play.
Medical assessment.
Monitored for changes in status (deterioration?)
Instructions for home care and schedule follow-up.
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Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2
Repeated Administration of Same Tool
ATC/MD on-the-field
Symptom Score
Cognitive Assessment
24 hr f/up ATC/MD
Symptom Score
Cognitive Assessment
48 hr f/up ATC/MD
Symptom Score
Cognitive Assessment
Never ask: “Do you have a headache today?” Ask rather: “How is your headache today?”
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Symptom Score Day1 Day2 …Day n
Headache
“Pressure in head”
Nausea or vomiting
Dizziness
Blurred vision
Balance problems
Sensitivity to light
Sensitivity to noise
Feeling slowed down
Feeling like “in a fog”
“Don’t feel right”
Difficulty concentrating
Difficulty remembering
Fatigue or low energy
Confusion
Drowsiness
Trouble falling asleep
More emotional
Irritability
Sadness
Nervous or anxious
Word Recall Immediate 2nd 3rd
Elbow
Apple
Carpet
Saddle
Bubble
Word Recall Immediate 2nd 3rd
Car
Ball
Baby
Truck
Pencil
Day 1 (ATC)
Day 2 (MD)
Coordinated Record Keeping and Assessment is Vital!
(ATC) (MD) (ATC)
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Challenges during game-time-decisions
Pressure to make quick decisions.
Coach’s bias- previous personal experience.
Athlete’s bias*- fear of loss of playing time, letting down teammates, thinking it isn’t serious enough.
Parent’s bias- previous personal experience.
Dogma associated with ‘getting bell rung’.
*McCrea et al. CJSM, 2004
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Questions?
Thank you!
Contact: [email protected]
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Remaining slides as prep/back-up in case extra questions are asked-not for original presentation
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Traditional Style vs. Revolution Helmet
Swartz et al. JAT, 2009
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Swartz et al. JAT, 2009
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Swartz et al. JAT, 2010 FMxtractor (Sports Medicine Concepts Inc.)
Cordless Screwdriver (Reversible) Quick Release Facemask Attachment (Riddell Inc.)
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Waninger & Swartz, CSMR, 2011