Even a minor blow to the head, whether playing football, at school or in a car, can have lasting consequences. Although spontaneous recovery is generally favorable, appropriate care in the first few days makes all the difference in the long term. In an article published in the Revue médicale de Liège, scientists from ULiège, in collaboration with the CHU de Liège, provide a summary of recent recommendations for the care of patients affected by concussion.
Concussions are a real public health issue, too often underdiagnosed and sometimes poorly managed. It is now well established that up to 30% of patients can develop persistent physical, cognitive, or emotional symptoms for weeks, months, or years after a concussion, hence the importance of optimal care in both the acute and chronic phases.
For the past year, heading the ball in soccer for children under the age of 9 has been banned by the Association des clubs francophones de football. This decision is supported by recent scientific studies highlighting the risks associated with repeated impacts to the head.
While there is a wealth of data available internationally, particularly in a sporting context, few studies have addressed the management of concussions in more general healthcare settings that are closer to our everyday lives. This is why the article written by scientists from ULiège and CHU de Liège aims to clarify the management of patients with concussion and make recommendations accessible to both healthcare professionals and the general public.
Scientists point out that certain myths die hard, such as the idea that you should stay isolated in complete darkness after a concussion. In fact, research now shows that this is completely contraindicated and that relative cognitive rest is recommended, i.e., continuing simple daily activities such as walking or doing the dishes. The latest recommendations also specify that a brain scan should only be used in specific cases.
“The work we have done is like ‘untangling’ or sorting through an old attic, where you have to extract relevant and up-to-date information while getting rid of preconceptions, misconceptions, or obsolete data on the subject.”
Géraldine Martens (NeuroRecovery Lab, GIGA Consciousness)
At ULiège, the NeuroRecovery Lab (NRL) works closely with the CHU de Liège, in particular with the Clinique de la Conscience et de NeuroRevalidation (CCNR), to develop a specialized care pathway for patients suffering from persistent post-concussion symptoms. This pathway, coordinated by the NRL and the CCNR, involves several hospital departments (neurology, physical medicine, radiodiagnostics, neuropsychology) and is based on a multidisciplinary and individualized approach. ULiège contributes scientific expertise through advanced analysis of neurophysiological data and functional imaging, with the aim of improving the detection and understanding of subtle brain injuries.
Read the full article published on ORBI
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All three scientists are members of the GIGA Institute and are receiving this grant for their ambitious projects in paediatric neuroscience and oncology.
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