Increased Rate of Head Trauma and Visits to the Emergency Room in Maryland

Concussions have become a serious issue in our discussions about sports and the type of regulations and rules that should be in place to protect our players, especially when they are young. Because of the incredible impact that concussions can have on a child’s development, it should be taken seriously when a child suffers a head injury. Despite the increased awareness and steps taken by not only the various sports programs and a trend in research to study the effects of concussions, but the number of reported concussion injuries has also increased. This does not equate, necessarily, to more injuries per se. It may mean that first and foremost, there are more players and participants in sports than in previous years, particularly because of the growing number of women and girls involved in sports. Secondly, awareness may be forcing more participants in sports to get checked out whenever they do incur a head injury.

Increased Visits to the Emergency Room and Concussion Detection

According to a study published by the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio, there has been an increased number since 1990 in the number of concussions to come through to emergency rooms – roughly 2 per 10,000 players back in 1990, with more than 30 per 10,000 people in 2013. For many people, this increase in the number of reports is a good thing, because it provides parents and doctors the opportunity to evaluate the injury and determine whether it rises to the level of being dangerous for the child’s health. Additionally, it may help to battle what is known as Second Impact Syndrome.

Second Impact Syndrome and its Effects on Athletes

Second Impact Syndrome (SIS) is a rare condition by which an athlete suffers a concussion and symptoms relating to a head injury and then several weeks later, the athlete returns to the sport and suffers a second head injury; the two events together lead to greater head trauma. SIS is more likely to occur where an athlete, after being initially injured, is rushed back onto the field to play when he/she is not healed enough to be out of danger.

Concussions and Head Trauma Suffered by Soccer Players

Though football and hockey are the more well-known sports attributed to head injuries and concussions, studies shown that soccer has been following behind, with a growing number of injuries being reported among players. Currently, there are more than three million soccer players under the age of 19. A study published by Pediatrics stated that from 1990 until 2014, there was a 78% increase in the number of soccer-related injuries that are treated in emergency rooms in the United States. Additionally, the rate of injuries annually has increased by 111% for kids between the ages of 7 through 17. Though there has been a significant increase in the number of soccer players participating in the sport, the cause surrounding the increase relates directly more with awareness. More awareness about the fatal aspects of concussions and head traumas have led more participants in all sports to go to the hospital when it is suspected that they have suffered head trauma, allowing doctors to monitor the healing process and give the green light when a player is ready to get back onto the field.

Charles County, MD Personal Injury Lawyers that Fight for You

Concussions are serious injuries and need to be treated seriously. If you or a loved one had concussions but were misdiagnosed, it is important to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney in Maryland. Please call the Law Office of Robert R. Castro at (301) 804-2312 for a confidential consultation.