World Cup concussions highlight the dangers of head injuries

WHAT:

During Sunday's World Cup match, when Germany's Christoph Kramer slammed his head into the shoulder of Argentina's Ezequiel Garay, the commentators for the match couldn't help but discuss the seriousness of concussions - yet Kramer played another 15 minutes before being helped off the field, dazed and slumping. And this wasn't the first major blow to the head during the month-long World Cup (Uruguay's Alvaro Pereira overruled his team doctor and continued playing after being knocked out, and Argentina's Javier Mascherano returned almost immediately after staggering to the ground following a blow to the head). 

The question was raised in each occasion - is two or three minutes long enough for a player to be evaluated for a concussion following a blow to the head? 

Dr. Anne Russo from the TOSH Concussion Clinic is available today at 1 p.m. to speak to news media about the seriousness of concussions, symptoms of a suspected concussion, proper evaluation following a blow to the head, and recommended treatment.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 1.6 to 3.8 millions concussions occur each year. In Utah, roughly 6,000 Utahns were treated and released from the emergency room in 2011 for a concussion. Of those, 41.7 percent were due to sports or recreational activities. Twenty-five percent of concussions from sports and recreational activities were among teens, ages 15-19, with 22 percent among children ages 10-14. 

It should also be noted that fewer than 10 percent of sports-related concussions involve the player experiencing a loss of consciousness (i.e., blacking out, seeing stars, etc.). The most common symptoms immediately following a concussion are headaches (85 percent) and dizziness (70-80 percent). 

Girls soccer is ranked No. 1 for the number of concussions, with high school football in second place. With both of these sports gearing up for practice in the coming weeks, parents, coaches and players need to understand that a blow to the head should be taken seriously, especially in the developing brain of a teenager. 

WHEN:

1 p.m., Tuesday, July 15, 2014

WHERE: