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Why ER Doctors Can Miss a Concussion

By Richard Plattner | July 23, 2024

Why ER Doctors Can Miss a ConcussionAll too often, accident victims are sent from the emergency room and only later find out they have a concussion. This experience can be confusing: People question why the emergency room doctors did not mention a concussion when they were there for treatment.

As a result, they have to deal with excruciating headaches or other effects that could have been addressed sooner if the emergency room doctors had not failed to diagnose their head injury.

Defining a concussion

Concussions are traumatic brain injuries. Even the smallest concussions are mild traumatic brain injuries. The American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) defines a mild traumatic brain injury as a “traumatically induced physiological disruption of brain function.” The ACRM also states that a mild traumatic brain injury is manifested by one or more of the following:

  • Loss of consciousness
  • Changes in the mental state that occurred during the accident (confusion, dazed, disoriented)
  • Loss of memory of what happened before or after the accident
  • Focal neurological deficits that may or may not be transient

By the ACRM’s definition, a concussion can be caused when the head is struck, strikes an object, or the brain experiences acceleration or deceleration movements, such as whiplash.

Is it common for ER doctors to miss concussions?

Unfortunately, it is quite common for ER doctors to miss concussions. According to a study published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine, practitioners asked patients who visited a Level 1 trauma and emergency care center two different questions related to their risk of a concussion or other mild traumatic brain injury. Although 98 patients responded with answers that indicated that they might have a concussion or brain injury, providers only gave 15 of them discharge papers and information regarding their brain injury.

Less than 50 percent were examined or assessed for brain injuries or even had their symptoms recorded at the trauma and emergency care center. In the end, only 36 people were diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injuries. This study concluded with the finding that “the majority of patients at high risk for mild traumatic brain injury have no documentation or an evaluation of one.” It also mentions that even if a patient is given a diagnosis of a brain injury, they usually do not receive proper education or information about it when discharged, which means that they are unlikely to obtain the medical care that they need.

Potential reasons why ER doctors may miss a concussion

There are several different reasons why an ER doctor may miss a concussion, such as:

  • Being focused on other more obvious and apparent injuries
  • The patient is more concerned about other injuries or symptoms and forgets to inform the doctor about their throbbing headache or other head-related symptoms
  • Failure to order or conduct tests that may identify or locate a concussion
  • The signs or symptoms of a concussion can be similar to other injuries or conditions
  • Symptoms of a concussion do not occur immediately after the crash while at the ER
  • The CT or MRI scan may show that there is no concussion, but it could be too small or too soon for it to show up on these scans
  • Rushing to get through a patient’s treatment, missing important information, documentation, or symptoms

What types of accidents can cause concussions in Phoenix?

Concussions can happen in any type of accident in which you hit your head, another object strikes your head, or your head rapidly moves back and forth. Here are a few of the most common types of accidents that can cause concussions:

 Symptoms of a concussion to keep an eye out for

Another common reason why ER doctors may miss a concussion is because it can take hours or even days for symptoms to show up. Therefore, you may have a concussion but have no apparent symptoms right after the accident. It is critical to keep an eye out for any symptoms within the first few hours, days, or weeks following an accident. Some of the symptoms you should look out for include:

  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Feeling dizzy
  • Intense headaches
  • Vision issues
  • Changes in sleep patterns
  • Feeling tired or fatigued
  • Inability to focus or concentrate
  • Trouble remembering or recalling certain events or information
  • Speech problems
  • Feeling irritable, easily angered, or overly emotional

If you notice any symptoms similar to the ones mentioned above, it is critical that you inform a doctor right away. It may be a good idea to request certain tests to determine whether a concussion or other traumatic brain injury is present.

What happens if an ER doctor fails to diagnose a concussion?

If an ER doctor fails to diagnose a concussion, there is a possibility that the patient may never get the required care or treatment needed. Doctors go through many years of education and training. Therefore, a lot of people never second-guess what a doctor says or tells them. However, depending on how severe their concussion is, this can lead to long-term physical, emotional, and cognitive effects. In addition, if one concussion is left undiagnosed and the individual experiences another concussion, they now have multiple concussions to the brain, which can lead to lifelong and permanent disabilities.

The Phoenix personal injury lawyers at Plattner Verderame, P.C. are ready and available to look over the facts and details of your accident, determine whether a doctor missed the obvious signs of your concussion, and ensure that all liable parties are held accountable for their negligent actions. Our firm has served clients for over three decades. When you work with us, you can rest assured knowing we have the experience, knowledge, and resources to fight for your right to the compensation you deserve. Call our office or submit our contact form to schedule your free and confidential case evaluation in Phoenix or Tempe today.

Posted in Personal Injury