Brain Injury & Concussion Program
Kid-tailored brain injury and concussion care
Young brains that are still developing are especially vulnerable to the effects of a head injury caused by sports, accidents, or falls, so we take every brain injury and concussion very seriously. Children’s Minnesota has the only pediatric Level 1 trauma program in Minnesota dedicated exclusively to kids. Our pediatric concussion specialists provide comprehensive medical evaluations and care that is tailored for young people – annually, more than 600 kids are evaluated and treated for head injuries at our concussion clinics.
Pediatric concussions, traumatic brain injuries and skull fractures are the most common type of conditions we treat, but no head injury or child is the same. Our multi-disciplinary care team model brings together pediatric experts from more than 60 specialty areas to address the unique medical, emotional and psychosocial needs of each patient and provide access to the latest treatments and innovations.
Online scheduling is now available for appointments at the concussion program.
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What is a concussion?
A concussion is the most common type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head or body. The impact leads to a disruption in normal brain function and sometimes a loss of consciousness. A concussion is diagnosed based on symptoms that can occur immediately after the injury or are recognized hours, sometimes days, later.
Pediatric concussion symptoms
Every concussion is different, so if your child has hit their head they may or may not present with one or more of the following symptoms.
- Headache
- Neck pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Double or blurry vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to noise
- Confused or forgetful about recent events
- Feeling mentally “foggy”
- Feeling slowed down in thinking, speech, or movements
- Trouble concentrating
- Trouble remembering
- Fatigue
- Drowsiness
- Sleeping more or less than usual
- Trouble falling asleep
- Changes in mood—irritable, sad, emotional, or nervous
Learn more about concussions and treatment, view our infographic.
When should I bring my child to the doctor or emergency department?
Whether mild or severe, all head injuries should be evaluated by a medical professional within two to three days. Children’s Minnesota has several concussion clinic locations in the Twin Cities metro area.
If you suspect your child has a concussion or brain injury:
- Remove the child immediately from the physical activity where they were injured.
- Do not return the child to that physical activity the same day.
- Do not return the child to full physical activity until they are evaluated by a medical professional.
- Assess the child for any of the symptoms listed above.
- If a medical professional is not on site, consider calling an ambulance.
Seek emergency medical care at a facility that has imaging capabilities (e.g., CT scan) if your child:
- Has neck pain.
- Has a seizure.
- Has a visible facial injury or skull deformity.
- Loses consciousness.
- Has trouble waking up or is especially sleepy and unable to stay awake.
- Vomits after the injury, especially if vomiting more than once.
- Has a severe headache or headache gets worse.
- Has balance problems or shows a loss of coordination.
- Has weakness or tingling in arms or legs.
- Has double vision or one pupil larger than the other.
- Has slurred speech.
- Appears disoriented or has trouble responding to questions.
- Has worsening or new symptoms.
Brain injury and concussion research
Children’s Minnesota has active research programs in the areas of brain injury and concussion, with the ultimate goal of improving clinical care for children and adolescents who sustain head injuries. Our multidisciplinary research teams have been particularly focused on identifying risk factors for prolonged recovery and developing innovative interventions to improve recovery times, such as pilot studies examining the effectiveness of targeted psychological therapies and yoga-based interventions in aiding recovery.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about brain injuries & concussions
How long does it take to recover from a pediatric concussion?
Some concussions heal in just a few days. Others can take months. Every concussion and child are different, so their treatment plan will be determined based on their unique needs. It’s very important to follow the treatment plan and timeline established by your child’s care team to prevent complications and reduce the risk of further injury.
What are the concussion laws for when a child can return to sports?
In Minnesota, it’s a law that every youth athlete who is removed from a youth athletic activity by a coach or official because of a suspected concussion must receive written medical clearance before returning to sports. Our concussion specialists will evaluate your child and determine when it’s safe for them to return to the rink, court or field. We may use neurological and diagnostic tools including physical therapy assessment, MRI, neuropsychological evaluation, etc. to help make this determination so you can feel confident knowing your child’s concussion has healed before they return to their activity.
For more information visit the Minnesota Department of Health.
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