Health
Diagnosing concussions
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 16, 2007
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has available an updated version of its physicians' tool kit to help provide earlier diagnosis, management and appropriate referral of patients with concussions. One of its key components is the Acute Concussion Evaluation -- ACE -- assessment tool, which can help with the initial evaluation and diagnosis for patients with known or suspected concussions or traumatic brain injuries.
In the U.S., at least 1.4 million people with TBIs die or are treated in hospitals or emergency departments each year. Of those, 75% to 90% are categorized as mild TBIs. Additionally, CDC experts estimate that 1.6 to 3.8 million sports and recreation-related TBIs occur each year in the U.S. But many are not treated.
The "Heads Up: Brain Injury in Your Practice" tool kit is online (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/07/16/hlbf0716.htm.
