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Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion


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Mild TBI and Concussion										Related Pages
					Also, see:
Symptoms
Getting Better
Repeated Head Impacts
Where to Get HelpDoctor and patient
Most TBIs that occur each year are mild TBIs or concussions.1 A mild TBI or concussion is caused by:
A bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or
By a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forthThis sudden movement can cause:
The brain to bounce around or twist in the skull
Chemical changes in the brain
Stretching and damaging brain cells2These changes in the brain lead to symptoms that may affect how a person thinks, learns, feels, acts, and sleeps.1Mild TBIs and concussions are seriousHealthcare providers may describe these injuries as mild because they are usually not life-threatening. Even so, the effects of a mild TBI or concussion can be serious.
**Get medical care for a mild TBI or concussion**
People with a mild TBI or concussion need to be seen by a healthcare provider. Contact your healthcare provider as soon as you can if you think you have a mild TBI or concussion.
You may consider using telemedicine or telehealth services if you are unable to visit a healthcare provider in person. Telemedicine and telehealth services:
Connect patients and their healthcare providers through a phone or video chat
Allow patients to get checked for mild TBI or concussion symptoms and get recovery tips without needing to travel to a medical office or hospitalYour healthcare provider can identify whether these services are available to you.
Patients experiencing mild TBI or concussion danger signs should seek care right away at an emergency department.Healthcare providers check for symptoms and help with recoveryYour healthcare provider may ask about symptoms and test you to see if you have any problems with:
Learning
Memory
Concentration, and
Problem solvingThese tests are called “neuropsychological” or “neurocognitive” tests and can help your healthcare provider identify the effects of a mild TBI or concussion. Even if the injury doesn’t show up on these tests, you may still have a mild TBI or concussion.
A scan of your brain (such as a CT scan) is not needed to spot a mild TBI or concussion, but may sometimes be used for patients at risk for bleeding on the brain after a head or brain injury.3,4
Ask your healthcare provider for instructions on how to safely return to activities following a mild TBI or concussion. Be sure to follow all of your healthcare provider’s instructions carefully.
See Getting Better for tips to help aid your recovery after a mild TBI or concussion.Repeated mild TBIs or concussions may lead to a longer recoveryA person with a history of multiple or repeated mild TBIs or concussions may experience a longer recovery or more severe symptoms.5 They may also have long-term problems, including:
Ongoing problems with concentration, memory, headache
Physical problems, such as keeping one’s balance5ReferencesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Report to Congress on mild traumatic brain injury in the United States: Steps to prevent a serious public health problem. Atlanta (GA): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2003.
Giza CC, Hovda DA. The new neurometabolic cascade of concussion. *Neurosurgery*. 2014;75 Suppl 4(0 4):S24-S33.
Lumba-Brown A, Yeates KO, Sarmiento K, Breiding MJ, Haegerich TM, Gioia GA, et al. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guideline on the diagnosis and management of mild traumatic brain injury among children. *JAMA pediatrics.*2018;172(11), e182853-e182853.
Jagoda AS, Bazarian JJ, Bruns JJ Jr, Cantrill SV, Gean AD, Howard PK, Ghajar J, Riggio S, Wright DW, Wears RL, Bakshy A, Burgess P, Wald MM, Whitson RR. Clinical policy: Neuroimaging and decisionmaking in adult mild traumatic brain injury in the acute setting. *J Emerg Nurs*. 2009 Apr;35(2):e5-40.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Report to Congress on traumatic brain injury in the United States: Epidemiology and rehabilitation. Atlanta (GA): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2015.
							
					
							Last Reviewed:  November 14, 2022						Source: 	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
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