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 superficial injury (such as scalp wound requiring only stitches) with no reported neurological symptoms.

• Unacceptable if:

- More than 6 concussions in a lifetime

- Symptoms from a concussion that lasted more than a month

- Severe concussion with a period of unconsciousness more than 1 hour

• Just for BM (PBSC could increase re-bleeding risk) if:

- More than 3 concussions (but less than 6)

- More than 5 minutes loss of consciousness (but less than 1 hour)

- More than 72 hours to recover from any neurological symptoms (short term memory loss, blurred vision, light or noise sensitivity, nausea or vomiting, dizziness or balance problems, difficulty thinking, poor concentration, seizure, personality changes, severe headache).

• For rest of brain injuries (discuss with medical officer) :

- Make TU for PBSC until more than 12 months from most recent injury

- Make TU for BM until more than 6 months from most recent injury