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Head Injuries: When Is Immediate Hospitalization Required?
By Lindsey Barton Straus
Created 05/01/2008 - 15:25

  • Concussion Treatment & Recovery
  • deteriorating mental status hospitalization
  • Health & Safety
  • Sports-Related Concussions & Subconcussive Injuries
  • traumatic brain injury
Rider: 
Signs of deteriorating mental status may indicate serious, life-threatening brain injury

Injured football playerRegular post-concussion monitoring is essential in the first 24 to 48 hours after injury to check for signs of deteriorating mental status that may indicate a more serious brain injury requiring immediate hospitalization.

An athlete should be immediately taken to the hospital for evaluation (including neuroimaging) if he:

  • Has a headache that gets worse
  • Is very drowsy or can't be awakened (woken up)
  • Can't recognize people or places
  • Experiences repeated vomiting
  • Behaves unusually, seems confused or is very irritable
  • Experiences seizures (arms and legs jerk uncontrollably)
  • Has weak or numb arms or legs
  • Is unsteady on his feet; or
  • Has slurred speech

Source: Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2 (SCAT2) [1]

Revised and updated September 16, 2011

Teaser title: 
Signs of Deteriorating Mental Status After Head Injury Require Immediate Hospitalization
Teaser image: 
Teaser text: 

Deteriorating mental status after head trauma may indicate a more serious, potentially life-threatening brain injury requiring immediate hospitalization.

Related articles: 
Concussions: Parents Are Critical Participants in Recognition, Treatment, Recovery [2]
Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 3 [3]
Concussion Signs and Symptoms [4]
Concussion Signs Requiring Immediate Hospitalization [5]
Kids in Sports
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Source URL: https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/signs-deteriorating-mental-status-serious-brain-injury-immediate-hospitalization

Links:
[1] http://sportconcussions.com/html/SCAT2.pdf
[2] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/parents-critical-participants-in-recognition-treatment-recovery-concussion
[3] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/sport-concussion-assessment-tool-evaluation-and-management
[4] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/concussion-signs-and-symptoms-physical-cognitive-emotional-sleep-related
[5] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/signs-requiring-immediate-hospitalization-after-concussion