Patient discussions

Patients with a head injury, and their families and care providers, should be provided with verbal and printed discharge advice that is age appropriate and includes:

  • Details of the nature and severity of the injury

  • Red flags for seeking medical advice, including when to return to the emergency room,

  • A specification that a responsible adult should stay with the patient for the first 24 hours after their injury

  • Details about the recovery process, including the fact that some people may appear to make a quick recovery but later have difficulties or complications,

  • Contact details of community and hospital services in case of delayed complications

  • Information about return to everyday activities, including school, work, sports and driving

  • Details of support organizations.

Relative rest for the first 24-48 hours after a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is recommended.[5]​​​[93][98]​​​[100]​ Complete rest, such as lying in a dark room and avoiding all sensory stimuli (e.g., reading, interaction with others, etc.) does not accelerate recovery and is therefore not advisable.​​​[5][98]​​​​​[100][101]

After an initial period of relative rest and symptom stabilization, patients should be encouraged to gradually resume normal daily activities (including screen time) as tolerated.[5][93][98]​​ Specific guidelines should be consulted for detailed guidance regarding return to school, sports, and military service.[5][98][102]​ To mitigate the risk of repeated mild TBI, patients should be counseled to not return to activities that involve a relatively high risk head impact exposure (e.g., collision sports) until they are clinically recovered.[94][98]​​[99]​​​​ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: HEADSUP Opens in new window

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