Sports-related head injuries
ISSUE SUMMARY
Concussion in sports is a major health concern in the United States with an annual incidence between 1.6 and 3.8 million injuries per year. The potential adverse consequences of concussion include post-concussive syndrome, chronic traumatic brain injury, and second impact syndrome. In the state of Kansas, approximately 63,000 students participate annually in high school athletics, and there are thousands of additional athletes in grade school, middle school, and local recreational sports leagues. As this is an issue that affects every community in our state and because of the potentially devastating health consequences of this injury, physicians should play a key role in the consistent diagnosis and management of sports concussion. Over the past decade, approximately 25 different guidelines have been published pertaining to the diagnosis and management of this injury. This has sometimes led to inconsistency in the management of this important public health concern.
ADOPTED ACTION OR POLICY
In order to be a resource to practicing physicians on the diagnosis, treatment, management and prevention of sports related head injuries, KMS is directed to establish a multi-specialty task force to periodically review and report on the available literature, studies and clinical results on sports related head injuries and make appropriate recommendations and information available to health care professionals and others throughout the state involved with student athletics.
Adopted by the KMS House of Delegates on April 30, 2011.
