ABI Community Rehabilitation team members Dr Richard Seemann (Rehabilitation Medicine Specialist); Kristen Clarke (Wellington Community Rehabilitation Manager and Occupational Therapist); and Sasha Kyd, (Physiotherapist Team Leader), recently presented to the General Practitioners CME Conference in Rotorua.
The presentation was on “An interdisciplinary team approach to concussion management”.
The team presented on each of their professional specialities and the importance of working within a team environment to effectively manage the rehabilitation process for people who have sustained a concussion.
The presentation was well-received and allowed the ABI team to connect with GP’s from all over New Zealand.
What is a concussion?
Concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells.
Concussions do not show up on medical imaging like CAT scans or MRI’s. Concussion is a functional injury, which means the area of the brain affected does not manage the flow of information as it should and this can mean it is difficult to manage usual day to day tasks.
Some concussion facts
You do not need to be knocked out to experience a concussion. Concussions do not show up on medical imaging like CAT scans or MRI’s. If you have had one concussion you have a greater risk of experiencing a second concussion. 85% of people who experience a concussion will fully recover within the first 1-3 months.
When to seek medical support
If the following symptoms are present there may be a more serious injury to the brain and medical assessment is required.
- Drowsiness or inability to wake up
- One pupil larger than the other
- A headache that gets worse and does not go away
- Slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination
- Repeated vomiting or nausea, convulsions or seizures (shaking or twitching)
- Unusual behaviour increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation
- Loss of consciousness (passed out/knocked out). Even a brief loss of consciousness should be taken seriously
Source:
https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/basics/concussion_danger_signs.html
If you are an experienced Allied Health, Psychology and or Medical practitioner interested in working in our adult or paediatric concussion teams in Northland, Auckland, Wellington, Wairarapa and or Manawatu please contact us at Hr@abi-rehab.co.nz
Also if you are a GP, Accident and Medical Service and DHB in the above areas wanting to know more about our Concussion Service and potential referrals please contact us community.referrals@abi-rehab.co.nz attention to Concussion Team.