Sports and mild traumatic brain injury

The frequency of sport-related traumatic brain injuries depends upon various factors: the type of sport and popularity of the sport in the general population, as well as the rules and their interpretation. Severe traumatic brain injuries can easily be diagnosed and guidelines exist for both their diagnosis and therapy. Difficulties arise in the diagnosis and practical management of mild head injuries. The following article deals with clinical presentation, mandatory diagnostic measures and eventual resumption of the sport following head injury. Finally, the problem of residual neurological deficits following repeated mild head injury and the question of genetic risk profiles as well biological markers for the diagnosis and evaluation of sport hazards are discussed.