A concussion or other traumatic brain injury can occur after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head—or a force to the body that rapidly moves the head and brain. Symptoms may begin immediately or become noticeable hours or days later.
Florida Injury Centers provides physician-led evaluation, follow-up, and coordination of appropriate specialty care for patients with head-injury symptoms after motor vehicle accidents.
Mild traumatic brain injury and concussion symptoms vary from person to person. They may include headache, dizziness or balance problems, nausea, sensitivity to light or noise, vision problems, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, feeling slowed down or foggy, memory problems, irritability, emotional changes, and changes in sleep.
Because some symptoms are delayed or overlap with other conditions, a medical evaluation is important when concussion or TBI is suspected after an accident.
Evaluation begins with the history of the collision, symptoms, neurologic concerns, medications, functional changes, and examination findings. The physician determines whether additional testing or a higher level of care is appropriate.
Concussion is primarily a clinical diagnosis. CT or MRI may be appropriate in selected patients to evaluate for structural injury or other concerns, but advanced imaging such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is not a routine stand-alone test for diagnosing mild TBI.
When symptoms, examination findings, or recovery warrant it, FIC can coordinate appropriate referral to neurology, neuropsychology, rehabilitation, imaging, or other specialists as part of the patient’s injury-care plan.
Call 911 or go to an emergency department for danger signs such as a worsening headache that does not go away, repeated vomiting, seizure, weakness or numbness, slurred speech, unusual behavior or increasing confusion, inability to wake or increasing drowsiness, one pupil larger than the other, or loss of consciousness.
Florida Injury Centers is not a substitute for emergency evaluation when these warning signs are present.
Most people with mild TBI or concussion improve over time, but recovery is individual. Persistent or worsening symptoms deserve reassessment. Return to work, driving, exercise, and other activities should be guided by symptoms and the treating clinician rather than a one-size-fits-all timetable.
FIC’s medical-home model provides structured follow-up so changes in symptoms, function, treatment needs, and referrals can be addressed as recovery progresses.
Florida Injury Centers provides statewide patient intake and physician access 24/7. Call for an injury evaluation and appropriate follow-up. If emergency warning signs are present, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
