Brain Injury Guidelines Updated for Diagnosis of Mild TBI
The clinical guidelines for traumatic brain injuries have been revised by a collaborative effort between the American College of Emergency Physicians and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The effort seeks to improve
patient outcomes for the more than one million patients who suffer from a concussion or a mild TBI every year. “People with traumatic brain injuries may appear to be normal and their symptoms may be mild, but there can be hidden dangers,” said Richard Hunt, MD, Director of the Division of Injury Response at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “TBI's can also lead to significant, life-long impairments that prevent a person's ability to function both physically and mentally. These revised guidelines can help ensure that patients with even mild TBI's are identified early and receive the care they need.” It is suspected that that number of TBIs a year is more than the reported million because many victims never get the preventative medical care due to the mildness of the injury and thus the lack of proper diagnosis.
