Simple, effective concussion assessments
The purpose of this website is to provide information and tools to assist with the clinical care of patients who have sustained a concussion.
Guidelines for all concussions sustained in community sport are the following:
-
All players should rest for 48 hrs – Avoid screens, physical activity and cognitive tasks
-
Complete a graduated return to learn/work and play
-
Be asymptomatic
-
Complete the mandatory stand-down period
Suspected Concussion
When a suspected concussion is logged in the CSX system the following is checked and collected
-
Concussion Red Flags
-
Signs and Symptoms of a concussion
-
Mechanism of injury
-
If the player was removed from play
-
Anything else that is noted at the time of the injury
This information and any other information collected will be available to you during your assessments.
Injury Assessment
The key steps for a concussion diagnosis should include:
-
A medical assessment encompassing:
-
Comprehensive history
-
Symptom assessment
-
Neurological examination including mental status, cognitive functioning, coordination, vision
-
Comparison to baseline values
-
-
Determine whether the clinical status of the patient has improved or deteriorated since the time of injury.
-
Assessing the need for emergent neuro-imaging to exclude structural brain injury.
To access this assessment use the code from the patient
Medical Clearance
Following your medical assessment the patient must meet the following criteria:
-
Be asymptomatic
-
Completed the graduated return to play
-
Fully returned to school or work
-
Returned to baseline levels
To access this assessment use the code from the patient
Return to Learn, Work and Play
During this stand-down period, athletes must complete the Graduated Return to Learn/Work and the Return to Play (GRTP) process. These processes are based on international best practice to help athletes recover and get back to school/work and sport.
An athlete should not go back to sports until they are back to school or work without symptoms getting significantly worse and no longer needing any changes in their schedule.
Concussion Management
The CSX GP portal is set up as a tool for you to use to assist with your clinical decision making around the following:
-
Injury visit - Concussion Diagnosis
-
Return to Play Medical Clearance
* Note: Medical clearance indicates that you as a medical expert are confident that a patient has recovered from their concussion and can safely return to their sport (i.e. contact training)
