SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH TRAUMATIC INJURIES IN THE HEAD IN NATAL/RN: A OBSERVATIONAL CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.
Keywords: Brainconcussion. Epidemiology. Sports. Athletic injuries.
Introduction: In Brazil, head trauma is a leading cause of death in children over 5 years old and accounting for about 50% of deaths in adolescence. In 2009, it was estimated to reach almost 500,000 new cases of TCE per year. Concussion, that is classified as a mild TBI, is defined as a brain injury with a complex pathophysiological process that affects the brain, which is induced by biomechanical forces that cause brain "shaking", resulting in clinical symptoms that are not necessarily related to pathological conditions. In addition, it is estimated that the annual incidence of concussions related to the sport goes from 1.6 to 3.8 million. Since there are no studies in the Brazilian literature addressing concussion in adult athletes and taking into account the complications that this trauma provides, this study aims to evaluate the signs and symptoms after the head trauma in fighters of the city of Natal / RN and metropolitan area. Objectives: To evaluate the signs and symptoms resulting from traumatic head injuries in MMA fighters of the city of Natal / RN and metropolitan area.Methods: It is an observational cross-sectional study. This study will be carried out at the sites of the championships and at the fight academies in Natal-RN. Athletes who meet the inclusion criteria will be evaluated at their place of admission to check signs and symptoms present before fighting, after the fight, and within 10 days after the match, using the Sports Concussion Assessment tool 5th edition (SCAT5) checklist.The ocular mobility and reading time of the athlete will be evaluated by the King Devick Test in the same three moments of the previous test. Information will be collected regarding the presented symptomatology and tests for assessment of cognition, coordination, and postural balance will be done. Subsequently, the volunteers will be referred to a public or private service neurologist for a possible diagnosis of concussion, and specialized follow-up. Expected Results: It is expected that fighters with head trauma will exhibit clinical symptoms of concussion, and altered cognitive status, such as decreased orientation and concentration, memory deficit, and postural balance.