Open AccessBrain Injury Forces of Moderate Magnitude Elicit the Fencing Response
Author(s) -
Ario H. Hosseini,
Jonathan Lifshitz
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
medicine and science in sports and exercise
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.703
H-Index - 224
eISSN - 1530-0315
pISSN - 0195-9131
DOI - 10.1249/mss.0b013e31819fcd1b
Subject(s) - unconsciousness , fencing , medicine , midbrain , physical medicine and rehabilitation , head injury , reflex , anesthesia , poison control , surgery , medical emergency , central nervous system , parallel computing , computer science
Traumatic brain injury is heterogeneous, both in its induction and ensuing neurological sequelae. In this way, medical care depends on accurately identifying the severity of injury-related forces. Clinically, injury severity is determined by a combination of the Glasgow Coma Scale, length of unconsciousness, posttraumatic amnesia, and persistence of neurological sequelae. In the laboratory, injury severity is gauged by the biomechanical forces and the acute suppression of neurological reflexes. The present communication describes and validates the "fencing response" as an overt indicator of injury force magnitude and midbrain localization to aid in injury identification and classification.