The wait times in our emergency departments are longer than usual due to illnesses like RSV and the flu. View our estimated ED wait times and learn more about where to get care for your sick child.
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.
Go here to book online.
We offer easy scheduling for your child’s neuroscience needs.
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.
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.
Learn more about concussions and treatment, view our infographic.
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.
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.
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.
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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