Marc Savard was diagnosed by Dr. Peter Asnis on Monday as having suffered a Grade 2 concussion. Asnis has not determined how much time Savard will miss.
However, the NHL does require players to miss at least one week with a concussion. I have received a lot of texts asking the difference between the three grades of concussions.
Doctor P. Dean Cummings gives the following analysis of a Grade 2 concussion.
The difference between a Grade II and a Grade I concussion is the presence of post-traumatic amnesia (loss of memory after the injury). After sustaining a Grade II concussion, an athlete does not remember events following the impact and may not be able to recall events that led up to the injury.
Athletes are removed from competition for the day after suffering a Grade II concussion. A complete neurologic (nervous system) examination of the athlete is performed immediately. If there are no neurologic symptoms, the athlete may be sent home provided that friends or family members are able to frequently check on the athlete over the next 24 hours. Otherwise, the athlete may be required to stay in a hospital for a 24-hour observation period.
The injured athlete is re-evaluated the following day and again in one week by a physician. If there are no symptoms after one week and no symptoms during testing (both at rest and with exertion), the athlete may return to practice or competition. If an athlete suffers a second Grade II concussion, he or she is removed from competition for a period of one month. An injured athlete may return to play only after exertional testing reveals no symptoms. If a third Grade II concussion occurs, the athlete is removed from competition for the season.
So, after reading Dr. Cummings summary of a Grade 2 concussion things do not seem as bad as they once did. Hopefully Savard will feel strong and be able to return to the ice this month.
The bare minimum here for Savard will be an absence of three games, as Boston has three games this week. Next Monday Savard will be re examined and likely there will then be a timeline put on his return date.
No comments:
Post a Comment