Fan Up! Pep Rally

Stephanie Lide & Amanda Oertling Miranda Parker, Jill Bergeron & Danielle Evans Suzy Potter & Tom Meyer

FAN UP

PEP RALLY

Photos by Bianca Baas With the Saints 2021 season right around the corner, what better way to kick off the season than with a Pep Rally. Guest speaker, Mike Detillier, joined in on the fun for this luncheon.

Christie Pittman & Kendra McArthur

Linda Larkin & Rachel Templeman

Maria Guezuraga & Joseph Montelepre Peggy Reeson & Kristen Livaudais

8080 WESTSHORE DR | COVINGTON, LA | 985-900-1212 | MBOFCOVINGTON.COM

Senator Sharon Hewitt, Mike Cooper & Linda Larkin Jenny Falgout, Tisha Batuk & Victoria Langlinais

Allison Looper-Chalmers, Tom Meyer & Vanessa Schneider Davis Pisarich, Mike Detillier & Rich Chase

Rusty Munster & Ovid Davis Michelle Schellinger & Megan Haggerty Amber Sheppard & Ashleigh D’Addezio

Concierge medical care for brain tumors, vascular disease of the brain, and patients with a variety of spine & brain pathology.

SERVICES OFFERED

CONSULTATIONS

Clinic Visits Telemedicine MRI Reviews Second Opinion Medicolegal Review

SURGICAL CARE Brain

Tumors (glioma, meningioma, metastases) Aneurysms, AMV, Carotid Stenosis Trigeminal Neuralgia Chiari Malformation

Spine

Artificial Disc Replacement Scoliosis Spinal Tumors General Spine

Peripheral Nerve

CarpalTunnel Ulnar Nerve Nerve Tumors Nerve Injuries

RADIATION THERAPY

Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Dr. Sebastian Koga is a board-certified neurosurgeon specialized in brain tumors and complex spine. He is a graduate of Tulane Medical School and completed his neurosurgery residency at the University of Virginia.

Askthe Expert

Concussion & Traumatic Brain Injury

EDITORIAL BY DR. SEBASTIAN F. KOGA, NEUROSURGEON Sports related head injuries have increased public awareness of the terms “concussion” and “traumatic brain injury,” or TBI. But what do they mean, and should we ban our children from every sport? Annually, over 3 million people are diagnosed with a concussion in the United States, and over 10 percent of these are related to sports injuries.

WHAT IS A CONCUSSION? Not every head bump is a concussion, but many real injuries are overlooked. A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury, which can result from any acceleration-deceleration impact, such as whiplash injuries in car accidents. Many people assume a concussion means losing consciousness, but it can happen without passing out. Feeling dazed, confused, or “seeing stars” after a blow to the head is a sign of concussion. In most cases, there is no external sign of injury such as bleeding on the scalp. Second Impact Syndrome (SIS) is a dangerous, occasionally fatal, brain injury with swelling brought about by a second concussion sustained too soon after a first injury, before the brain has a chance to recover. The risk for SIS is high in contact sports and speed sports, such as football, boxing, and soccer as well as cycling and snow skiing.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET A CONCUSSION? A concussion can impair memory, speech, judgment, and even balance. Many people report fuzzy memory of the event and difficulty with short-term memory. Even mild concussions can affect mental and muscle function and should not be taken lightly. Neurosurgeons and neurologists emphasize that no concussion is truly minor. A single concussion usually does not cause permanent damage but may take weeks and months to fully recover. A second concussion can be very dangerous, especially if it’s very soon after the first, and can be permanently disabling. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? Concussions cause a surprising variety of symptoms, and these can last many weeks and months, even years. Common symptoms include headache, confusion, memory loss, double vision, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), nausea, vomiting, insomnia, sensitivity to light, fatigue, trouble concentrating, and personality changes. After a bad accident, one may feel reasonably well (perhaps relieved to be alive!); but if the symptoms persist beyond a few weeks, many patients developed depression and have trouble readjusting to daily routines. As a neurosurgeon, I advise patients with concussions to take a break from work, avoid driving, and definitely avoid any sports that would risk a second injury for at least three months. There is often pressure on athletes to return to play, but if they do so too soon, the risks are significantly higher. HOW IS CONCUSSION DIAGNOSED? It is important to see a doctor as soon as possible after a head injury. Most mild brain injuries are too subtle to see on CT or MRI scans. Therefore, the diagnosis depends on a careful history and exam with a specialist. One can see a neurologist, a neurosurgeon, or a physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) specialist. Some modern brain imaging studies such as a DTI MRI can be useful to evaluate brain damage if the symptoms persist. More importantly, we evaluate brain function by doing memory and cognitive testing. Some patients will need a longer formal exam with a neuropsychologist for a complete diagnosis. In any case, everyone with a head injury should report unusual experiences to a specialist.

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS? The brain recovers with rest. Deep, long sleep uninterrupted by TV or telephone sounds makes a crucial difference in recovery. Mild symptoms can be treated with a growing menu of therapies addressing every system affected, such as memory, cognition, coordination, and so on. Chronic headaches, depression, personality changes, and seizures may require medication and regular doctor visits. Although there is some speculation and pseudoscience especially around headaches, we have scientific proof that several new techniques like near-infrared low-level light therapy (LLLT) really work and can be used to treat TBI. Importantly, narcotic “pain pills” are not useful, depress the neural activity of the brain, and can cause rebound headaches.

LAST WORDS: The brain is the most complex and valuable organ. Traumatic brain injury is common, easy to come by, and difficult to treat. The most dangerous head injuries in children arise from use of ATV and other recreational vehicles. “Tall enough to drive one” is seldom old enough. Helmets make a huge difference in limiting injury and should be worn in all high-speed sports. Everyone with TBI needs lots of family and clinical support. Brain injury is not something to be “tough” about; no one can “work through it” like a stiff joint or a sore back. TBI can improve with rest and new medical therapies. Play it safe, and do not get Second Impact Syndrome (SIS)!