Free CME Article: From the Field of Play to the Field of Combat
Traditionally, the medical management of concussion has involved close observation and physical and cognitive rest. Most postconcussive symptoms resolve spontaneously and require only conservative treatment. However, some patients have prolonged recoveries and may benefit from treatment with medications. Some naturally occurring compounds demonstrate multimechanistic neuroprotective properties and may be potential treatment considerations. For the most part, however, current treatments are symptom based for those with persistent postconcussive symptoms. The evidence supporting the various pharmacologic treatments in concussion is equivocal. The choice of which medication to use for a patient depends on the symptom characteristics, and each decision should be made on an individual-case basis. There is a need for well-designed trials investigating the efficacy of various medical therapies.
From: From the Field of Play to the Field of Combat: A Review of the Pharmacological Management of Concussion by Petraglia et al.
SANS Neurosurgery members can earn CME credits from this article.
Combining the power of neurosurgery’s most popular online learning resource with its most influential peer-reviewed journal, SANS Neurosurgery offers subscribers the resources to stay ahead in the rapidly moving field. Test your knowledge and neurosurgical decision-making skills with questions pulled from each issue of Neurosurgery. This SANS product provides users with the latest pearls and constantly evolving information from the latest scientific neurosurgery articles.
