The Pathophysiology of Concussion

摘要: Concussion is defined as a biomechanically induced brain injury characterized by the absence of gross anatomic lesions. Early and late clinical symptoms, including impairments memory attention, headache, alteration mental status, are result neuronal dysfunction mostly caused functional rather than structural abnormalities. The mechanical insult initiates complex cascade metabolic events leading to perturbation delicate homeostatic balances. Starting from neurotoxicity, energetic metabolism disturbance initial mitochondrial seems be main biochemical explanation for most postconcussive signs symptoms. Furthermore, concussed cells enter peculiar state vulnerability, if second concussion sustained while they in this state, may irreversibly damaged occurrence swelling. This condition concussion-induced vulnerability basic pathophysiology impact syndrome. N-acetylaspartate, brain-specific compound representative wellness, proving valid surrogate marker post-traumatic damage, its utility monitoring recovery aforementioned "functional" emerging, because it easily detectable through proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.