What is the epic treatment for traumatic brain injury?
Multisystem trauma requiring intubation. The EPIC treatment focuses on initial trauma care centered around the three brain injury “H-Bombs:”
Who would benefit from the epic treatment?
Patients who would benefit from the EPIC treatment are those with trauma from any cause who experience any of the following: Loss of consciousness. GCS of 14 or less. Any post-traumatic seizures. Multisystem trauma requiring intubation. The EPIC treatment focuses on initial trauma care centered around the three brain injury “H-Bombs:”
What is concussion therapy and how can it help my concussion?
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a jolt or blow to the head. Seeking treatment for a concussion is imperative. If concussion symptoms last longer than 2-3 weeks, concussion therapy may be beneficial. Read on to find out what concussion therapy is and how it can help your concussion recovery!
Is rest the best medicine for concussions?
The premise that rest is the most effective management strategy for all concussed patients assumes that all concussions are alike, yet concussion recovery is known to be influenced by several modifying factors including sex(13), concussion history(14), and age(15).
What is epic treatment?
EPIC provides patients with intensive outpatient services focused on outreach, treatment, and individual goals. EPIC offers services to a patient's family that are focused on involvement, education, and support.
What is a fNCI?
Functional NeuroCognitive Imaging (fNCI) fNCI is a unique form of a fMRI that uses specific tests to measure how the brain is functioning. fNCI is over 98% accurate at diagnosing concussions.
What is the best course of treatment for a concussion?
Rest is one of the most important treatments for a concussion because it helps the brain to heal. Rest nearly completely for the first few days after a head injury, then slowly begin to “exercise your brain.” The unused, “stagnant” brain remains stagnant if not used and lengthens recovery.
What are the 3 R's of treating a concussion?
While some sports have a higher risk of concussions, it's important to remember concussions can happen in any sport, and even outside of sports. Teens have the best chance of recovering from a concussion and avoiding complications when students, parents, and schools follow the three R's: recognize, report, and recover.
How does fNCI work?
fNCI scans show how blood flows throughout the brain while the brain is at work. fNCI detects problems with blood flow and energy by determining where there is too little or too much activity in key regions of the brain.
Can an MRI show an old concussion?
An MRI creates clear images of brain tissue. But these scans cannot show if you have a concussion. A concussion is different from a fracture or bleeding. A concussion affects how your brain works, and most people recover within a few weeks.
What can a neurologist do for post-concussion syndrome?
If you decide to see a neurologist for post concussion syndrome, here are three things they might do:Rule Out Other Neurological Causes of Symptoms. A neurologist can rule out alternative causes of your symptoms. ... Prescribe Medication. ... Provide Referrals to Another Specialist.
What are the 4 categories of concussion symptoms?
The signs and symptoms of concussion reported within 1 to 7 days post injury (see Table 3-3) typically fall into four categories—physical (somatic), cognitive, emotional (affective), and sleep—and patients will experience one or more symptoms from one or more categories.
What is the recovery time for a concussion?
Concussion recovery and treatment. Approximately 80 percent of concussions resolve over seven to 14 days, with an average of 10 days. People with concussions should never return to sports or other physical activity sooner than one week from sustaining the injury.
What are the 4 steps in the concussion action plan?
Action PlanRemove the athlete from play.Keep an athlete with a possible concussion out of play on the same day of the injury and until cleared by a health care provider. ... Record and share information about the injury, such as how it happened and the athlete's symptoms, to help a health care provider assess the athlete.More items...•
What are some common treatments for concussions?
Concussion treatmentOver-the-counter pain relievers.Drinking plenty of water. Concussions can cause nausea and vomiting, which lead to dehydration.Getting enough rest.Taking a break from sports and other strenuous activities.Not driving a vehicle right away. ... Avoiding alcohol while recovering. ... Brain rest.
What happens in the brain after a concussion?
Common symptoms after a concussive traumatic brain injury are headache, loss of memory (amnesia) and confusion. The amnesia usually involves forgetting the event that caused the concussion.
What is the importance of prehospital management of severe brain injury?
The “Guidelines for Prehospital Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury” from the Brain Trauma Foundation highlight the importance of the care provided immediately after the primary head injury, emphasizing it can significantly improve or worsen a secondary brain injury.
What is the best way to keep the SpO2 level of a head injury?
1. Hypoxia. Due to the fact that any single episode of hypoxia can double the mortality chance of a head-injured patient, the EPIC program recommends keeping the SpO2 of head injured patients as close to 100 percent as possible through early application of O2, even if SpO2 is above 90 percent. Keep this in mind, especially when working ...
What are the three problems that EMS would normally try to prevent in any patient?
Hypoxia. Hyperventilation. Hypotension. While these are all issues that EMS would normally try to prevent in any patient, an injured brain is particularly susceptible to these three disturbances and may suffer permanent injury due to even slight complications: 1. Hypoxia.
Who is the recipient of the American Red Cross Hero Award?
Duckworth is recipient of the American Red Cross Hero Award, Sepsis Alliance Sepsis Hero Award, and the EMS 10 Innovators Award in addition to numerous awards and citations for excellence in education and dedication to service.
Do EPIC guidelines apply to geriatric patients?
Similarly, the EPIC guidelines apply to geriatric patients, but with some additional considerations. Geria tric victims of trauma are typically under-triaged. Consider age as a risk factor. Many geriatric patients take some form of blood thinner.
How to treat a concussion?
The top 5 most effective evidence-based treatment options for concussion: 1. Exercise Therapy. Following concussion, animal (and many human) studies have demonstrated a reduction in blood flow to the brain in the early stages. Recent research has found that these blood flow changes may persist for some time following injury due to ongoing ...
How long does a concussion last?
Concussion is an injury that typically resolves quite quickly in most people (symptoms generally disappear for 80-90% of patients within 7 to 10 days); however, whiplash symptoms can linger for up to a year or more.
Can concussions mimic mental illness?
Not only that, the symptoms of these and other mental health conditions can result in, or mimic, the same symptoms of concussion (dizziness, mental confusion, concentration problems, sadness, emotional outbursts).
Do concussions need rest?
Historically, patients with concussion were told to rest, rest, rest. And when that didn’t work, they were told to rest some more. The research on concussions is evolving at an exponential rate and we are realizing that not only does prolonged rest not work; it can actually make you worse. Sadly, many healthcare practitioners are not keeping up ...
Does exercise help with concussion recovery?
More recent evidence suggests that exercise might even help speed recovery in the early stages after concussion! It is important to see someone who knows exactly what they are doing with this protocol. Testing with a trained professional must be done first to establish set points as well as your specific program.
Is mental health a part of concussion management?
Studies examining the overlay of mental health and concussion are endless (so much so that I won’t even begin to start referencing them), and mental health will always be a big part of concussion management. In most cases, patients often feel much better following some education and reassurance.
How does a physical therapist treat a concussion?
Physical Therapists can provide treatment in the following ways: Neck rehabilitation. A concussion can result from multiple types of head trauma, and what affects the head usually also affects the neck. To protect the head, a patient’s neck will often tense or stiffen before, during, or after an impact, often resulting in chronic shoulder ...
How soon after a concussion can you see a physical therapist?
Physical therapy as early as a few days after concussion. Recent research suggests that working with physical therapists can be beneficial as early as a few days after the injury. An article by Ellis et al. published in 2018 discusses how it can be important, especially for athletes, to see a physical therapist within the first week ...
How long does it take to recover from a concussion?
Most adults (75-85%) recover from their concussion within 10-14 days, and for children, the expected recovery time frame is four weeks. However, for patients who are still experiencing symptoms beyond that threshold, seeing a physical therapist may also be warranted. Physical Therapists can provide treatment in the following ways: ...
How can a physical therapist help the neck?
From manual therapy to progressed therapeutic exercises, PT interventions can help improve neck function. Balance/dizziness rehabilitation.
Why do athletes need physical therapists?
Physical therapists, in particular, are well suited to help the athlete retain and maintain their physiological conditioning as much as possible during the recovery process .
How long does it take to recover from a traumatic brain injury?
The normal time frame for recovery is 10-14 days for adults, and four weeks for children. Symptoms that last beyond these time frames are considered "persistent symptoms.". There is not yet a consensus on the expected time frame for recovery for adolescents.
Can a physical therapist do oculomotor exercises?
If a patient has been examined and there are no cognitive red flags that would warrant a visit to a neurologist, a physical therapist can provide oculomotor exercises in a controlled environment to slowly retrain the individual to be able to tolerate complex moving visual environments.
