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DETECT: Diagnosing Concussion Immediately

by: Judi Bailey
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Soon you won’t need to flip fingers in front of a dazed DB asking “How many fingers?” or ask your starting QB to count backwards by 7’s from 100. There’s a new device in the validation stage that can detect concussions on the sidelines or in the locker room – in five to seven minutes.

This instrument, called DETECT (Display Enhanced Testing for Cognitive Impairment and Traumatic Brain Injury), is being developed by David Wright MD of Emory University in Atlanta and Michelle LaPlaca, PhD, biomedical engineer and associate professor at Georgia Tech. The device is composed of three parts: a laptop, headset and a handheld unit. It compares after-injury response time and memory accuracy to measurements taken before the injury when the athlete is alert and healthy.

The developers of DETECT hope to be able to give coaches and trainers a heads up in order to prevent the possibility of more injury by sending a player into the game too soon. Athletes who continued to play due to misdiagnosis or lack of knowledge can easily become injured again or even worse. This “second-impact syndrome” occurs from heightened susceptibility caused by the initial concussion. In fact, a lesser hit can cause even more damage than the first due to the altered brain functioning that lasts from a period of one to 10 days following a head injury. During this time the brain is susceptible to more serious or even permanent damage.

In spite of newer helmets with more padding and face-mask modifications, studies show that about 10 percent of athletes who play contact sports experience concussion injuries yearly. Concussions are one of the most difficult impairments to diagnose properly. Coaches now often use a pen and paper test that usually takes an hour or more, too long when a coach has to make a quick decision on the availability of an athlete. The DETECT instrument cuts through the time crunch by being fast, portable and easily used thereby preventing increased risk of injury from a second blow. Some turn a blind eye to the impact of multiple concussions during a short period of time. These injuries have ended, and prevented, full careers.

For example take Steelers fullback Merrill Hoge who, while running for the Bears, was pressed to retire by the consequences from a succession of concussions he had during a period of six weeks. Since then Hoge has been carrying the message of the danger inherent in concussions, especially in repeated collisions. As opposed to the unmistakable pain of a knee or shoulder injury, Hoge warns that a concussion generally goes undetected until later symptoms warrant examination.

Other NFL greats forced into leaving the game pre-maturely include Troy Aikman who, after a head injury was convinced that the upcoming Super Bowl would be held in Henryetta, Oklahoma, his hometown; Al Toon who reportedly underwent nine concussions; and Jim Kelly who became so confused after a hit that he called the same play four times in a row.

There are also those who never were able to make it to the list of “greats” because of concussive injuries. Former semi-pro player Malik Mateen, an Inside Linebacker in the Great Lakes League, was going to make a tackle when the runner shifted causing him to do a twist and turn. “My head hit the grass. It was just a stun. I got up and finished the game.” In fact Mateen said he was a monster in that game landing the highest number of tackles.

The next day was the beginning of a different story. For three days Mateen lost his vision completely. He underwent numerous heart and brain scans and other testing but nothing was found. “They didn’t know what was wrong with me,” he said, “until a week later when the doc said it was a concussion.”

His vision came back in waves: first he saw what looked like snow on a TV, except the flakes were transparent; then he saw gross shapes but no details; then it was a narrow tunnel with no peripheral vision. “I hung it up after that.”

In his playing career Mateen knocked a few guys out, a few helmets off. “I almost killed a guy. He said his soul left his body. Time to grab hands and start praying,” he added.

Head football coach of the Abilene Christian University Wildcats, Chris Thomsen, said it’s a relief to know there is something being done to detect brain injury. Thomsen had a concussion as a player. “I suffered from dizziness and nausea but missed maybe a couple of plays. That’s when they just sent you back in.” He talked about a QB who had a series of concussions. “His doctor said he couldn’t play anymore – not ever again. He took it real hard. I felt bad for him.” Thomsen said that he looks forward to seeing DETECT along the sidelines.

It’s called a concussion whenever any alterations in mental functioning occur after a blow to the head. A concussion is more critical than, say, a torn hamstring. It occurs from the movement the brain makes upon impact; the jelly-like substance of the brain slams against the hard wall of the skull then quickly rebounds back against the opposite side which, according to the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, can be 98 times the force of gravity. Whereas a muscle like the hamstring has room to swell until the injury heals, the skull is filled to the max with brain, blood and spinal fluid leaving no room to expand. When the brain swells it puts pressure on the skull which can result in severe injury, coma or even death.

Which is why we wait anxiously for the instrument, DETECT. It’s in the validation stages and is currently being tested in a few ER’s. It’ll be here soon, coach.

Judi Bailey has had over 100 articles appear in national and international publications. When not at the computer she can be found viewing old football movies or sneaking down I-77 to the Football Hall of Fame.Judi Bailey. she can be reached at 216-227-8393 or author48@cox.net.





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