What is the medical term for a brain concussion after a head injury?

Medical Term for Brain Concussion After Head Injury

The medical term for a brain concussion after a head injury is "concussion" or "mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)," which are considered equivalent terms in medical literature. 1

Definition and Classification

Concussion is defined as a brain injury resulting from biomechanical forces to the head, face, neck, or elsewhere on the body with an impulsive force transmitted to the head. It is characterized by:

• Rapid onset of short-lived neurological impairment that typically resolves spontaneously
• Clinical signs and symptoms that reflect a functional disturbance rather than structural injury
• No abnormalities on standard structural neuroimaging studies 1

Concussion is considered equivalent to, or a subset of, mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) with the following diagnostic criteria:

• Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13-15
• Loss of consciousness for less than 30 minutes (if present)
• Post-traumatic amnesia lasting less than 24 hours (if present) 1

Clinical Presentation

Concussion affects multiple clinical domains:

• Physical symptoms: Headache (most common), dizziness, nausea, fatigue, light/noise sensitivity
• Cognitive symptoms: Confusion, memory problems, difficulty concentrating
• Emotional/behavioral symptoms: Irritability, anxiety, depression 2

Concussion Subtypes

Recent guidelines identify five predominant concussion subtypes:

1. Cognitive: Characterized by attention and memory deficits
2. Ocular-motor: Visual disturbances and eye movement abnormalities
3. Headache/migraine: The most prevalent subtype in pediatric populations (52%)
4. Vestibular: Balance and spatial orientation issues (50% prevalence in pediatric patients)
5. Anxiety/mood: Emotional disturbances following injury 1

Additionally, two concussion-associated conditions are recognized:

• Sleep disturbance
• Cervical strain 1

Pathophysiology

Concussion symptoms result from a neurometabolic cascade triggered by biomechanical forces:

• Rapid neurotransmitter release causing ionic imbalance
• Increased energy demand with decreased cerebral blood flow
• Mitochondrial dysfunction 1, 3

Diagnostic Considerations

• Diagnosis is primarily clinical, based on history of appropriate mechanism and symptom onset
• No definitive biomarkers or imaging findings are required for diagnosis
• Standard neuroimaging (CT, MRI) typically appears normal 1, 4
• Advanced techniques like diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) may detect subtle white matter changes not visible on conventional imaging 4

Recovery and Prognosis

• Most concussion symptoms resolve within 1-2 weeks 3
• Approximately 15-20% of patients develop persistent symptoms 1
• An estimated 15% of patients with mild TBI may have compromised function one year after injury 5
• Approximately half of individuals with a single mTBI may demonstrate long-term cognitive impairment 6

Common Pitfalls

• Assuming all concussions resolve quickly without potential long-term effects
• Failing to recognize that symptoms may evolve over minutes to hours after injury
• Using vague terminology that leads to misconceptions in diagnosis and management 7
• Not considering the possibility of persistent symptoms requiring ongoing care

The term "concussion" is widely accepted in clinical practice, though some experts have advocated for more precise terminology due to the variable nature of the injury and its outcomes 7.