STEP 2: Concussion Live Course - November 5-6, 2024, in San Diego, CA-Case Discussion: On the Field Assessments

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Dr. Daniel C. Herman, a specialist in sports medicine, outlines a concussion case involving a basketball player. The incident occurs when a player hits their head on the court during a dunk, leading to observable signs such as an unprotected fall and potential confusion.<br /><br />Upon witnessing the injury, initial steps emphasize stabilizing the head and neck while assessing the situation. The next steps involve checking the player's responsiveness using the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) and the AVPU (Alert, Verbal, Pain, Unresponsive) scale, especially since the player reports blacking out briefly and having a headache. The goal is safely escorting the player to the sidelines and checking for responsiveness to ensure there are no immediate life-threatening issues.<br /><br />Further assessment involves a secondary evaluation to identify any red flags like a vacant look, symptoms of confusion, or deterioration in condition. Background factors such as a history of ADHD might also influence the evaluation and management of the player's condition.<br /><br />In the sideline evaluation, Dr. Herman suggests standard concussion evaluation methods, including baseline assessments and tests like the Balance Error Scoring System (mBESS) and gait analysis. Throughout the process, Dr. Herman stresses the importance of communication, positioning, and clear roles within the emergency action plan (EAP) to ensure the player's safety and effective management of the situation. <br /><br />This systematic approach delineates the steps for handling concussion scenarios effectively, ensuring comprehensive care and safe management for athletes experiencing head injuries.

Asset Subtitle

Daniel C. Herman, MD PhD

Keywords

sports medicine

concussion case

basketball player

head injury

emergency action plan

baseline assessments

Balance Error Scoring System

gait analysis

ADHD

Dr. Daniel C. Herman