Football and CTE

[MusicMedic]

This topic isnt really related to EMS, but its health related, i saw this article on TIME magazine about CTE (Chronic traumatic encephalopathy) and foot ball players.

Dr. Ann McKee, a Boston University neurological researcher who has received a dozen brains donated from former NFL, college and high school players. In each one, it's simple to spot a protein called tau, which defines a debilitating disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. Common symptoms of CTE include sudden memory loss, paranoia and depression during middle age. The disease is also known as dementia pugilistica, or punch-drunk syndrome, because until recently the overwhelming majority of its victims were boxers. Not anymore. Researchers like McKee have found a deep and disturbing association between CTE and America's most popular sport.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1957046,00.html?hpt=C2#ixzz0eELj4it8


Heres a video pertaining to the article:
http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,64253995001_1957921,00.html

Its interesting how repetitive brain trauma can lead to a degenerative disease

thoughts? comments?

 

[VentMedic]

We've known this about boxing for years with Muhammed Ali as an example.

Actually your topic is directly related to EMS since failure to recognize head injuries can lead to complications that will later become part of the degenerative process.

I mentioned some of this on another thread but a few here thought this was all BS especially about the possibility of physicians being involved in the oversight of training and wellness of high school players.

The law requires that all youth athletes suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury during a practice or game must sit out and may not return to play unless cleared by a licensed medical provider trained in concussion management. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Florida are among the states considering similar legislation. "I believe we're reaching a tipping point," says Richard Adler, a Seattle lawyer who was instrumental in designing the Lystedt Law.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1957046-4,00.html#ixzz0eETf35DV

Since I do a lot of work with pediatrics, high school athletic TBI has become an interest for me. It also should be of concern for any parent who has kids that will be playing sports, especially football, during their school years.

Failure to recognize the signs of a concussion or TBI can lead the player to a lifetime of problems, as well as the immediate dangers, just as the studies of degenerative diseases have indicated.

Catastrophic Head Injury Three Times Greater In High School Vs. Collegiate Football Players

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070703171622.htm

Since some of these articles have been appearing during the past few years, more physicians are now involved at the high school level so it is not just BS when one hears about physicians and athletic trainer involvement at the high school level.


Sports Medicine Physicians Brace For The Injuries Of Football Season
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070829162754.htm

Concussion is gaining recognition as a serious injury, particularly at the professional level. Concussions remain underreported, however, especially at the high-school level, where they are most frequent and potentially fatal, Fineberg said. Prevention, by not tackling head-on and wearing properly fitted helmets, is the best way to "treat" this injury.

With few outward signs of injury -- no swelling or broken bones -- identifying the subtle signs of concussion is crucial, because a high school player who has an undiagnosed concussion and sustains a second blow to the head is at risk of second-impact syndrome, which studies have shown can result in sudden death.

"If a coach or trainer suspects a player has had a concussion, he or she should take the helmet away, and put that player on the 'doctor's team,'" stated Fineberg. "There must be complete resolution of the injury before the athlete is allowed to play again, and that decision is not the player's, not the parents', not the coach's; it's the physician's."

CDC Guide to Coaches for Concussions and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/tbi/CGToolKit/CoachGuide.pdf

Good article with case study:
Acute Subdural Hematoma in a High School Football Player After 2 Unreported Episodes of Head Trauma: A Case Report

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC155441/

Catastrophic head injuries in high school and college football players

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/...roller.PPMCArticlePage.PPMCPubmedRA&linkpos=2

 

[Akulahawk]

Unfortunately, most EMS field providers are not educated well enough to detect concussions after the initial symptoms have passed. Low grade concussions may present few, if any, symptoms at all and you might not even suspect that your patient had one unless your patient tells you.

Often, EMS is called only when the patient remains unconscious for too long for the coach's comfort.