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Pediatric Concussion Update: New Recommendations for Management of Pediatric Concussion
Diane R. Gillooly
Concussion is a brain injury characterized by biochemical changes within the brain. As defined by the Berlin Consensus Statement on Sports-Related Concussion, "Sports related concussion (SRC) is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) induced by biomechanical forces" (McCrory et al., 2017, p. 2). Loss of consciousness does not necessarily occur, and widely variable symptoms may resolve quickly or persist long-term (Normandin & Benotti, 2018). TBI continues to be a major cause of death and disability, with over 64,000 TBI-related deaths in 2020, or approximately 176 TBI-related deaths per day (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022a). There are no definitive diagnostic tests, and identification of concussion relies on presence of symptoms. This literature review identifies the current recommendations for management of concussion in the pediatric population. Mechanisms for screening and identification of concussion, guidelines for returning to normal activities, and the role of the nurse in pediatric concussion management are discussed.
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