FreeMD® Concussion: Definition

Concussion

Definition

Concussion Definition

Common names:

Concussion
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic Brain Injury

A concussion is a type of brain injury that causes a temporary disturbance in brain function. These injuries range from mild to severe. Not all concussions cause a loss of consciousness, but loss of consciousness and amnesia are two of the most commonly seen features of concussion.

Continue to Concussion Symptoms

Related Topics:

Brain contusion
Epidural hematoma
Head injury
Skull fracture
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Subdural hematoma
More...

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Last Updated: May 8, 2008 References

Authors: Stephen J. Schueler, MD; John H. Beckett, MD; D. Scott Gettings, MD

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Concussion References:

Edwards P, Arango M, Balica L, et al. CRASH trial collaborators. Final results of MRC CRASH, a randomised placebo-controlled trial of intravenous corticosteroid in adults with head injury-outcomes at 6 months. Lancet. 2005 Jun 4-10;365(9475):1957-9.
Grappling with traumatic brain injury. Lancet. 2007 Dec 8;370(9603):1879.
Lee AC, Ou Y, Fong D. Depressed skull fractures: a pattern of abusive head injury in three older children. Child Abuse Negl. 2003 Nov;27(11):1323-9.
McKinley J. New challenges in assessing and managing concussion in sports. Am Fam Physician. 2007 Oct 1;76(7):948-9.
Ropper AH, Gorson KC. N Engl J Med. 2007 Jan 11;356(2):166-72. Review. No abstract available. Erratum in: N Engl J Med. 2007 Apr 26;356(17):1794.
Smits M, Dippel DW, de Haan GG, Dekker HM, Vos PE, Kool DR, Nederkoorn PJ, Hofman PA, Twijnstra A, Tanghe HL, Hunink MG. External validation of the Canadian CT Head Rule and the New Orleans Criteria for CT scanning in patients with minor head injury. JAMA. 2005 Sep 28;294(12):1519-25.
Tender GC, Awasthi D. Risk stratification in mild head injury patients: the head injury predictive index. J La State Med Soc. 2003 Nov-Dec;155(6):338-42.