Counsel patients, parents on concussion risks in football

Anthony A. Romeo

Gregory L. Cvetanovich

There has been increased awareness of sports-related concussions and risks associated with head trauma. The reported rates of concussions have doubled during the past decade, especially among youth and high school athletes. Much of the increase is attributable to greater recognition and diagnosis, as well as more media attention.

Among youth and high school athletes, American football has the highest risk of concussions, accounting for almost half of sport-related concussions in United States and the highest rate of concussions per player. Male athletes have more concussions overall due to greater participation in contact sports, however, female athletes are diagnosed with almost twice the rate of concussions compared with males in comparable sports, such as soccer. Younger athletes may have greater susceptibility to concussions, risk of recurrence, chance of second impact syndrome, as well as prolonged symptoms and recovery.

Risks of concussions

Treatment of concussions in young athletes consists of cognitive and physical rest along with symptom management. Short-term concussion risks include prolonged symptoms consistent with post-concussive syndrome and rare, but potentially fatal, second impact syndrome if the athlete sustains a second head injury too soon after the first. Patients with prior concussions are also at two- to five-times greater risk of sustaining another concussion. Long-term concerns include reported increased rates of dementia and depression potentially related to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

In a published study, researchers analyzed the brains of 202 deceased football players. They found an overall 87% rate of CTE on neuropathology. Former high school players had a 21% rate of mild CTE, and the rates of CTE increased based on highest level of play to 99% of former National Football League (NFL) players who had predominantly severe CTE on pathology.

The study had limitations, but it was proposed that CTE may be related to repeated blows to the head in football and the severity may increase as athletes reach high levels of play. Many questions remain about the impact of early exposure to head impacts from youth football and of hits sufficient to result in clinical diagnosis of concussion vs. clinically silent subconcussive hits.

Due to these concerns, football leagues of all levels, as well as those of other sports, have made rule changes designed to reduce head injuries. Many of the interventions have had success in reducing the rate of concussions, although the effect on potential long-term cognitive effects of repeated head trauma and rates of CTE remain unknown. Some rule changes have been shown to have paradoxical increases in rates of concussions, which more likely reflect simultaneously increasing awareness of concussions among players, coaches, trainers and team physicians, rather than a causative relationship of the rule changes and increased concussions. Equipment changes, such as improved helmets and increased use of mouth guards have been made, but show mixed data on their impact on concussion rates.

Counseling patients, parents

As orthopedic sports medicine physicians, we should have a low threshold to suspect and diagnose concussions in athletes in conjunction with trainers and other health care providers. Patients should be removed from play to prevent further injury and allowed to undergo appropriate concussion treatment prior to consideration of return to play. A multidisciplinary team approach can be valuable, particularly in patients with prolonged or recurrent concussion symptoms.

Athletes recovering from concussions along with their parents, in the case of youth athletes, should be advised that certain contact sports are associated with elevated risk of concussion. This risk is inherent to contact sports despite attempts to reduce risks with rule changes, equipment modifications and coaching. Once an athlete is symptom-free and completes a concussion protocol, return to play may be considered as a shared decision with patients and parents.

Counseling patients and families on the long-term risks of single or repeated concussions is more challenging, including risks for cognitive, behavioral and mood disorders and neurodegenerative changes of CTE. Patients should be informed that the growing evidence connects CTE and its associated symptoms to football, particularly prolonged and high-level play.

Existing data make it impossible to project these risks for an individual athlete with a concussion or repeated subconcussive hits to the head. Furthermore, it is unclear how early participation in football and concussions sustained in youth and high school football influence long-term cognitive function. However, we owe it to our patients to discuss the potential risks although we cannot provide firm guidelines about number of concussions or head impacts after which they should consider not returning to play.

Despite uncertainty about long-term and patient-specific risks, the decision to participate in contact sports comes down to an informed decision by patients and parents. Orthopedic sports medicine physicians should provide information about the current understanding of the risks, which patients and parents can use to make decisions about what short- and potential long-term risks are acceptable.

References:

Belson K. Pop Warner Bans Kickoffs in Hopes of Protecting Its Youngest Players. New York Times. May 12, 2016.

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For more information:

Anthony A. Romeo, MD, is the Chief Medical Editor of Orthopedics Today. He can be reached at Orthopedics Today, 6900 Grove Rd., Thorofare, NJ 08086; email: orthopedics@healio.com.

Gregory L. Cvetanovich, MD, is in the Division of Sports Medicine at Rush University Medical Center.

Disclosure: Romeo reports he receives royalties, is on the speaker’s bureau and a consultant for Arthrex; does contracted research for Arthrex and DJO Surgical; receives institutional grants from AANA and MLB; and receives institutional research support from Arthrex, Ossur, Smith & Nephew, ConMed Linvatec, Athletico and Miomed. Cvetanovich reports no relevant financial disclosures.