Second Impact Syndrome
Brain injuries — no matter how “mild” — can add up over time. When a second TBI occurs before the brain heals from the first, children can develop a life-threatening complication called second impact syndrome. The second impact can occur days, weeks or months after the initial TBI. It is more likely to cause brain swelling and other widespread damage, and it can be fatal.
To prevent second impact syndrome, healthcare providers impose activity restrictions while the brain is healing. This may mean temporarily discontinuing sports or other recreational activities for a period of time, or limiting activities like computer use, text messaging and reading. Following these guidelines will promote healing and minimize the risk of future brain injury. Providers may also ask patients to take the ImPACT test as part of their treatment at Gillette. ImPACT is a specialized computer program that measures attention, memory, processing speed and reaction time. ImPACT results help healthcare providers make safe return-to-activity decisions.
Learn more about ImPACT testing.
