BOZEMAN, Mont. – Fewer x-rays and more rest time are some of the changes to federal guidelines on treating kids with a concussion as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A doctor with the Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital says many of the guidelines were already in place for sports-specific injuries, but they have been expanded to injuries sustained from a fall or other event.
“If you get hit in the head with a football or you fall on the ice on the sidewalk and hit your head, it’s all the same,” said Dr. Chris D’ardenne.
Here is a list of 5 key findings according to the CDC website release on the new guidelines:
- Do not routinely image pediatric patients to diagnose mTBI.
- Use validated, age-appropriate symptom scales to diagnose mTBI.
- Assess for risk factors for prolonged recovery, including history of mTBI or other brain injury, severe symptom presentation immediately after the injury, and personal characteristics and family history (such as learning difficulties and family and social stressors).
- Provide patients and their parents/caregivers with instructions on returning to activity customized to their symptoms.
- Counsel patients and their parents/caregivers to return gradually to non-sports activities after no more than a 2-3 days of rest.
