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Physical Examination

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Concussion Management for Primary Care

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Abstract

The physical examination of a suspected concussion should focus on evaluation of other potential confounding factors as well as rule out more ominous diagnoses on one’s differential diagnosis. A thorough neurologic examination, including mental status testing, should be the starting point in order to evaluate the patient for findings suggestive of intracranial bleeding, skull fracture, or other pathology. The examiner should also look for cervical issues that could contribute to symptomatology as well as visual deficits. Lastly, balance evaluation is also an important component. In recent years, there has been increasing emphasis on the utilization of vestibulo-ocular testing. While there is limited evidence on the physical examination of concussion, there is enough to support the use of mental status testing, cervical spine evaluation, balance testing, vestibulo-ocular examination, and orthostatic testing in select patients presenting with a suspected concussion.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics and Family Medicine, Division Head of Primary Care Sports Medicine, NorthShore University HealthSystem, NorthShore Orthopaedic Institute, Glenview, IL, USA

    Carrie A. Jaworski (Clinical Assistant Professor)

  2. University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Carrie A. Jaworski (Clinical Assistant Professor)

  3. Department of Orthopaedics and Family Medicine, Sports Medicine Fellow, NorthShore University Health System, Northshore Orthopaedic Institute, Glenview, IL, USA

    Priya Nagarajan

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  1. Carrie A. Jaworski
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  2. Priya Nagarajan
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Correspondence to Carrie A. Jaworski .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Family and Sports Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    Deepak S. Patel

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Jaworski, C.A., Nagarajan, P. (2020). Physical Examination. In: Patel, D. (eds) Concussion Management for Primary Care . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39582-7_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39582-7_4

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