According to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the last 10 years emergency department visits for recreation- and sports-related traumatic brain injuries has increased by 60% among children and adolescents. Experts at the CDC believe the increase is due to more adults becoming aware that the young individuals needed to be seen by a health care professional.

The CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report revealed that traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) increased from 153,375 in 2001 to 248,418 in 2009, with the main activities contributing to TBIs being football, bicycling, soccer, playground activities and basketball.

Linda C. Degutis, Dr.P.H., M.S.N., director of CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, explained:

“We believe that one reason for the increase in emergency department visits among children and adolescents may be a result of the growing awareness among parents and coaches, and the public as a whole, about the need for individuals with a suspected TBI to be seen by a health care professional.”

Throughout this eight-year period, each year in U.S. emergency departments, roughly 173,285 individuals aged zero to 19 years were treated for non-fatal sports- and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries.

Emergency department visits for sports- and recreation-related TBIs varied by gender and age group:

Males contributed to 71% of all visits

70.5% of visits were among those aged between 10-19 years

The most common injuries for children aged 0 to 9 years were sustained whilst riding bicycles and playground activities

Data also varied by gender and activity for those aged between 10 to 19 years. Among females most injuries were sustained while bicycling, playing soccer or basketball, while injuries among males occurred most while bicycling or playing football.

According to research, younger individuals who suffer a traumatic brain injury experience longer recovery times and have an increased risk of serious outcomes in comparison to adults. Symptoms of TBI might appear mild, however, the injury can result in considerable life-long impairment and affect learning, behavior, and/or emotions. Appropriate education, management and diagnosis is vital in helping young individuals recover quickly and completely from a TBI.

Richard C. Hunt, M.D., director of CDC’s Division for Injury Response, explained:

“While some research shows a child’s developing brain can be resilient, it is also known to be more vulnerable to the chemical changes that occur following a TBI.”

Over the past decade, as part of the Heads Up Initiative, CDC has worked to raise awareness about traumatic brain injury, including concussions. They have also worked towards improving the recognition, prevention and response to TBI among parents, health care professionals, school professionals, youngsters and adolescents, and coaches.

Recently, the CDC developed a new online training course in order to give health care professionals a summary of what they need to know about concussion among young individuals. The course is endorsed by the National Football League and CDC Foundation. The course allows health care professionals to discover what happens to the brain and why young individuals are at a greater risk. The aim is to prepare health care professions to diagnose and manage concussions, whether it be on the sidelines, training room, emergency department or their office.

The online course called, Heads Up to Clinicians: Addressing Concussion in Sports among Kids and Teens, was completed in collaboration with a team of experts and thirteen leading medical organizations, and also includes a continuing education opportunity. The course is available free of charge.

Written by Grace Rattue