Just because a patient is discharged from a hospital after receiving treatment for a traumatic brain injury, they’re not necessarily always given a clean bill of health. Symptoms related to brain injury can last for weeks, or even months. And, while most people will recover quickly, some will experience headaches, confusion, irritability or other symptoms that can persist and should be monitored by a concussion specialist.
Lack of Follow-Up Care
Of 831 concussion patients who visited an ER studied in a TRACK -TBI study published in JAMA Network Open, less than half saw a physician or other medical provider within three months for proper follow-up. And despite 279 of the patients who still reported three or more “moderate-to-severe” post-concussive symptoms three months later, 41% hadn’t had a follow-up visit. Nearly 50% of those patients discharged from hospital left without being provided any traumatic brain injury educational materials to help them understand what they should and should not be doing. This information is standard protocol for concussion specialists.
The TRACK-TBI initiative, an international resource for the study of traumatic brain injury, calls the lack of follow-up by doctors after concussion assessment “a public health crisis that is being overlooked.”
We agree with study co-author Geoffrey Manley, MD who says that while the media focus is predominantly directed at a small percentage of the population – football players, for instance,
“… everyone who falls off their bike or slips off their skateboard or down the steps needs to be aware of the potential risks of concussion.”
Post-Concussion Care
Follow-up care by a physician with concussion training is important to address specific symptoms and the individual requirements that are needed to support ongoing recovery. At the MAC Alliance, we follow guidelines like the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program which addresses various stages of post-concussion rehabilitation. Long-lasting cognitive and physical symptoms can persist, and, if they do, it’s even more important that the patient not engage in activity that would put them at risk of another concussion.
Your concussion specialist will define a plan of action to help ensure the right amount of rest and activity. As we’ve said before, when in doubt check it out!
