Abstract

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are exceedingly common in combat sports. These injuries can range from mild head injuries such as concussion to more severe TBIs such as subdural hematoma (SDH), intracranial hematoma (ICH), subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) among others. Traumatic SDH remains the most common cause of boxing-related mortality. As a result, for initial licensure and maintenance of licensure most combat sports commissions require some form of neuroimaging. The type and frequency of neuroimaging though is not standardized across different commissions in the United States and around the world. This commentary discusses ideal neuroimaging modality and frequency of imaging that would help ensure the health and safety of the combatant.

Keywords

boxing, combat sports, concussion, traumatic brain injury, neuroimaging, CT scan head, MRI brain