Fairview Northland Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Program

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Fairview Northland Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Program
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Purpose

• Review mild traumatic brain injury statistics
• Understand the myths of mild traumatic brain
  injuries
• Learn about Fairview Northlands Mild Traumatic
  Brain Injury Program

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STATISTICS

• 1.4 million people sustain a traumatic brain
  injury in the U.S. per year
• - 50, 000 die
• - 235,000 are hospitalized
• - 1.1 MILLION ARE TREATED AND RELEASED FROM
  THE ED

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CDC STUDIES

• Minnesota chosen for HI study
• Mille Lacs County 1 in Head injuries
• Sherburne County 24
• The CDC has estimated that 80 of HI s are
  treated in the ED
• The Minnesota Brain Injury Association
• - Patients with HI s do better with early
  and lengthy rehab

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INTERESTING FACTS

• Radiology tests for mild head injuries are
  usually negative
• Loss of consciousness is not indicative of the
  seriousness of the injury
• You DO NOT have to hit your head to have a head
  injury
• Falls are the 1 cause of HI followed by MVAs
  and then assault

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• Neurocognitive changes can continue to occur for
  more than 36 hours post event

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Athletics

• High school ages are more likely to have second
  impact syndrome and more severe problems
  following a concussion
• Athletes with ADHD and learning disabilities are
  more likely to have a HI
• There are NO specific number of concussions an
  athlete can sustain before being suspended from
  play

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Mechanism of a Head Injury

• After an impact, the brains metabolism increases
• However, the bodys ability to get the blood
  supply to the brain is impaired
• It is this mismatch that causes the
  physiological changes that lead to the signs and
  symptoms of a head injury

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The Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Program

• Step One Recognition
• - Lay People (coaches, family, friends)
• - Primary Physicians/Physicians assistant
• - Nurses
• - Emergency Department

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• Step Two Referral to the Rehab team
• - Occupational Therapy
• - Physical Therapy
• - Speech and Language
  
• Therapy
• - Chiropractor
• - Massage Therapy
• - Neuropsychologist

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• Social Services
• Chaplain

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SUMMARY

• The ED treats and releases the majority of mild
  TBI patients
• There are millions of mild traumatic brain injury
  victims that are not treated
• Neurocognitive testing and a team approach are
  important to preventing financial and social
  devastation in the lives of these victims
• Early recognition is critical