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now for the important question...how severe was it?
We grade them according to severity (duration of unconsciousness and type of symptoms) and 'suggest' that patients with the more severe level of concussion NOT participate with driving, operating heavy machinery, firearms or explosives for a period of time.
It's a sad time when someone with sound medical knowledge "clears" someone to immediately return to a dangerous activity after a severe concussion....certain circumstances may dictate the need to return, i.e., hot zone in a sand box, but otherwise in civilian life they would be removed from their activity for a prescribed period of time for their safety as well as the safety of others. Anyone remember 2 yrs. ago in NASCAR, one of the big name drivers hit a wall, was unconscious for 3-5 minutes and they let him return to driving in a back up car!!!! he lasted about 2-3 more laps then drove into the pit area at about 180 mph....couldn't stop! I'll try to attach some stats and suggestions from a presentation I give on this.
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'Revel in action, translate perceptions into instant judgements, and these into actions that are irrevocable, monumentous and dreadful - all this with lightning speed, in conditions of great stress and in an environment of high tension:what is expected of "us" is the impossible, yet we deliver just that.
(adapted from: Sherwin B. Nuland, MD, surgeon and author: The Wisdom of the Body, 1997 )
Education is the anti-ignorance we all need to better treat our patients. ss, 2008.
The blade is so sharp that the incision is perfect. They don't realize they've been cut until they're out of the fight: A Surgeon Warrior. I use a knife to defend life and to save it. ss (aka traumadoc)
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