Page 26 - Waterfall City September Issue 2023

Waterfall City News

Professor Jon Patricios

THE TRUTH ABOUT

CONCUSSION

Concussion can occur in almost any sport

C ontinuing to play sport with an undiagnosed “Whenever there is any chance that a person may have

concussion can have dangerous or potentially
suffered concussion, it is imperative that they are examined
even fatal consequences, warns Professor Jon
by a doctor who will guide the next steps. It is just not worth
Patricios, director of Waterfall Sports Orthopaedic
harm; a trained clinical eye is needed to detect subtle signs of
Surgery, based at Netcare Waterfall City Hospital. taking a chance when it comes to potential neurological
head injury, which may need specific interventions. Certainly,
“It is important that anyone who has had a blow to the head any deterioration of an athlete’s condition after a suspected
is appropriately assessed for concussion, and in the school concussion should be treated as an emergency.
sport context, this is something all coaches, trainers, players
and parents of participants need to be aware of,” says Patricios, “Even after a doctor’s consultation, the person should not be
who is also a professor of Sport and Exercise Medicine at the left alone, even if they are cleared to go home, as anyone who
University of the Witwatersrand’s Faculty of Health Science has suspected concussion must be monitored for any change
and leader of the Wits Sport and Health (WiSH) research in their condition,” warns Patricios, who is the founder and a
group. director of Sports Concussion South Africa.

He points out that any activity where there may be a fall, the Patricios has been instrumental in making the latest in
possibility of a fast-moving ball striking the head or the head international concussion management protocols available
colliding with the ground, or a collision with another person to local schools and amateur athletes. He recently co-led the
or object could result in concussion. This includes everything International Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport,
from rugby, cricket and gymnastics to water polo, hockey, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in June
motorcycling and equestrian sports, among others. 2023.

24 Waterfall City Issue 9 2023