…educating the child and family of the importance of adhering to the RTP protocol and cognitive rest is essential to positive outcomes after a concussion is sustained.
DepartmentCase Study—Primary CareManagement of Concussion in the Pediatric Patient
Section snippets
Case Presentation
A 14-year-old boy presented to the clinic and reported a 3-day history of a frontal headache. The headache began immediately after he was hit in the head twice while playing hockey. The patient claimed he did not lose consciousness and remained on his feet. Although he experienced no amnesia, he reported that his mind has felt “fuzzy” since the event. The headache has been occurring off and on for the past 3 days and can be relieved with ibuprofen. Associated symptoms include fatigue and
Discussion
A significant amount of research has been conducted recently on the diagnosis and management of concussion. A position statement was published by McCrory and colleagues (2009) after the Third International Conference on Concussion in Sport (CIS) was held in 2008; however, the statement did not specifically address pediatric patients (Halstead & Walter, 2010; McCrory et al., 2009). The American Academy of Pediatrics published a report in 2010 that outlined the most recent knowledge on pediatric
Conclusion
An mTBI in a pediatric patient is a complex health issue with serious acute and long-term consequences. Understanding the value of appropriate diagnosis, evaluation, and management of concussion in children is a must for PNPs. Above all, educating the child and family of the importance of adhering to the RTP protocol and cognitive
Alycia M. Marsh, Nurse Practitioner, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
References (9)
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MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
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Cited by (6)
Admission of Pediatric Concussion Injury Patients: Is it Necessary?
2019, Journal of Surgical ResearchCitation Excerpt :One potential reason for unnecessary admissions is that providers have either a lack of comfort or understanding of the pathophysiology of mTBI. Multiple studies have demonstrated a poor understanding of the physiology, treatment, and outcomes for concussion patients.9-11 They concluded that lack of education manifests in low adherence to published guidelines and larger number of unnecessary diagnostic studies.12
Initial Emergency Department Visit and Follow-Up Care for Concussions among Children with Medicaid
2019, Journal of PediatricsSports-related concussions in youths
2015, Archives de PediatrieEmergency Neurological Life Support: Traumatic Brain Injury
2015, Neurocritical Care
Alycia M. Marsh, Nurse Practitioner, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Debbie Fraser, Associate Professor, Director, Nurse Practitioner Program, Faculty of Health Disciplines, Athabasca University, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada.
Jonathan P. Marsh, Orthopedic Surgery Resident, Section of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Conflicts of interest: None to report.