Concussions and TBI

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including concussions, are at the forefront of public concern about athletic injuries sustained by children. Caused by an impact to the head or body, a traumatic brain injury can lead to emotional, physiologic, and cognitive sequelae in children. Physiologic factors (such as a child's developing nervous system and thinner cranial bones) might place children at an increased risk for traumatic brain injuries. A previous study demonstrated that 70 percent of emergency department (ED) visits for Sports- and Recreation-Related Traumatic Brain Injuries (SRR-TBIs) were among children.

Because surveillance data can help develop prevention efforts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System–All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP)* by examining SRR-TBI emergency department visits during the years 2010–2016. An average of 283,000 children aged 18 years old and under sought care in emergency departments each year for SRR-TBIs, with overall rates leveling off in recent years. The highest rates were among males and children aged between 10–14 and 15–17 years. Traumatic brain injuries sustained in contact sports accounted for approximately 45 percent of all SRR-TBI emergency department visits. Activities associated with the highest number of emergency department visits were football, bicycling, basketball, playground activities, and soccer. Limiting player-to-player contact and rule changes that reduce risk for collisions are critical to preventing traumatic brain injuries in contact and limited-contact sports. If a traumatic brain injury does occur, effective diagnosis and management can promote positive health outcomes among children who are most at risk.