Brain Injury

Acceptability at recruitment

Acceptable

Acceptability at CT/Work Up

Acceptable

Individual Risk

Donor

Explanation of condition

A common form of brain trauma is a concussion which is a traumatic injury that alters the way the brain functions. Effects are usually temporary but can include headaches and problems with concentration, memory, balance and coordination. Although concussions usually are caused by a blow to the head, they can also occur when the head and upper body are violently shaken. Other terms for concussion are “mild traumatic brain injury” or MTBI. For purposes of volunteer donor assessment, a concussion must have been medically diagnosed by a physician or other medical personnel or met concussion criteria through sports assessment by a trainer or coach. Other serious injuries of the brain that may not have been specifically diagnosed as a concussion should also be taken into consideration in this assessment.

Guidance

• Acceptable if all of following are present: - Fully recovery with no ongoing neurological complications associated with the injury

- >6 months since recovery from most recent injury

- Loss of consciousness <1 hour

- Associated neurological symptoms lasted <10 days

- No more than one head injury within past 12 months

- No more than 6 lifetime concussions/head injuries

• Unacceptable if any of the following:

- Unacceptable if any of the following:

- Loss of consciousness >1 hour

- >6 lifetime concussions/head injuries

- Chronic neurological symptoms secondary to the head injury

- Coma

- Stroke

- Transient ischaemic attack

- Intracranial haemorrhage (epidural, subdural or subarachnoid haematoma)

- Craniotomy

- Chronic traumatic encephaolopathy

• Discuss with medical officer :

- More than one head injury in the past 12 months

- Neurological symptoms from any injury lasted >10 days up to 3 months

- Skull fracture

- Transsphenoidal (nose/sinus) surgery

- Orbital (eye socket) surgery

- Vestibular (inner ear) surgery