REVIEW
Brain concussion in young athletes: major pain points
1 Federal Research and Clinical Center for Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
2 Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
Correspondence should be addressed: Maria S. Tarasova
Raevskogo, 4, 121151, Moscow; ur.abmftrops@smavosarat
Funding: this review is part of the applied research study on the Clinical and prognostic significance of neurometabolic cascade for the development of delayed complications of hypoxic and traumatic brain injuries in athletes (Neurocascade-20, ID 76.35.41) conducted by the Federal Research and Clinical Center of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation of FMBA under the State Assignment for years 2020–2021.
Author contribution: Klyuchnikov SO searched and analyzed the literature and contributed to writing the manuscript; Feshchenko VS contributed to writing the manuscript and edited the final version; Zholinsky AV edited the final version of the manuscript; Tarasova MS, Slivin AV, Efimov PV searched and analyzed the literature.
Numerous studies conducted in recent decades have generated vast amounts of knowledge on sport-related concussions. This review analyzes international data on pediatric and adolescent sport-related concussions. Drawing on the most recent research into the pathophysiology of brain concussions, the authors identify and discuss “pain points” associated with SRC, i.e. unsolved problems of diagnostic criteria, the use of modern neuroimaging modalities and promising biomarkers. Special attention is paid to the physiology of children and adolescents and predisposing factors important for developing adequate diagnostic and management strategies. The authors formulate problems that need to be solved in order to improve care for young athletes with brain concussions.
Keywords: elite athletes, brain concussion, youth sports