Are Student Athletes at Risk of Brain Injury?

Baltimore, MDFor people who experience a traumatic brain injury, the results can be devastating. A brain injury can result in life-long health problems, including memory loss, confusion and symptoms of dementia, assuming the person survives his brain injury. Athletes, such as those who play professional football or hockey, are reportedly at a high risk of a traumatic brain injury. Those who are under the age of 25 and play contact sports might also be at increased risk of suffering a life-altering brain injury.

According to a 2009 study commissioned by the National Football League, and reported by NPR (01/20/11), former NFL players are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or other memory problems at a rate of 19 times that of average men between the ages of 30 and 49.

Athletes involved in contact sports are at a higher risk of concussion, which is a form of traumatic brain injury. Concussions occur when the head is involved in quick motion and then suddenly stops, causing the brain to collide with the bones of the skull.

Student athletes could be at a higher risk of traumatic brain injury from a condition known as second-impact syndrome. Second-impact syndrome occurs when the brain experiences a second impact following an unhealed concussion. The blood vessels can fail and the brain experiences drastic swelling that can cause death. So far, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (01/02/11), second-impact syndrome is only found in patients who are age 25 or younger because their brains haven't fully matured.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette cites the case of Preston Plevretes, who, at age 19, suffered a concussion during a football practice. Shortly after, he was cleared by a campus nurse to return to football. One month after his concussion, Plevretes collided with another player during a football game. He suffered a tear in the major vein in his brain, had three strokes and fell into a coma. Plevretes required emergency surgery in which half of one side of his skull was removed to allow his swollen brain to heal.

The doctor who treated Plevretes at the hospital told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that it appeared the patient had been in a high-speed car accident. Five years later, Plevretes is still in physical and occupational therapy and has no peripheral vision. His family reached a $7.5 million with LaSalle, the school he played for when he was severely injured.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that approximately 135,000 children between the ages of five and 18 are seen in emergency rooms every year for sports or recreation-related head trauma, including concussions. Furthermore, children and teens are, according to the CDC, more likely to receive a concussion and take longer to recover from the concussion than adults. The CDC takes the issue seriously enough that it has created "Concussion: A Must Read For Young Athletes Fact Sheet" in cooperation with the NFL and NFL Players Association to warn young athletes about the risks and symptoms.

One such patient is Scott Eveland, who suffered a traumatic brain injury while playing football for a high school. A former assistant student trainer says Eveland was put into a game despite complaining about headaches. Forty-five minutes into the game, Eveland collapsed and, three years later, requires 24-hour care. A lawsuit has been filed against San Marcos Unified School District.