The Energy and Commerce Committee today kicked off its broad review of concussions with a roundtable discussion led by Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Murphy (R-PA).
“Today, we begin a new chapter in the national dialogue on concussions," stated Murphy. “We are not here to re-litigate past actions, point fingers or cast blame. We are here to take a step back, to gain some perspective and to begin a conversation focused on solutions, not on problems."
“A neurosurgeon at Michigan’s Bronson Hospital told me in February, ‘What we have identified is simple concussions are not quite as simple as they seem to be.’ It’s a sobering assessment for parents, athletes, service members, and citizens who are trying to understand the risk these injuries pose to them or their families," stated full committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI). “It’s also why we are here today - to develop a better understanding about what is known, to identify gaps in our scientific and medical knowledge, and to begin charting a path forward that will improve our ability to manage these injuries."
Dr. Michael McCrea, Clinical Neuropsychologist and Professor of Neurosurgery and Director of Brain Injury Research at the Medical College of Wisconsin, highlighted the complexity of the challenge by noting that two people can experience nearly identical injuries, yet have very different outcomes.
Dr. Micky Collins, Director of Sports Medicine Concussion Program at the University of Pittsburg Medical Center, spoke to some of the recent advancements in treating concussions, and stressed that some patients benefit from a measured return to normal activities, rather than being isolated when recovering from a concussion. He also highlighted the improvement of now being able to identify sub-types of concussions.
Dr. Geoffrey Manley, Chief of Neurosurgery at San Francisco General Hospital and Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of California San Francisco, shared concerns regarding the high amount of individuals with concussion that do not seek care, or do not receive follow up care. Even more concerning he said, was the fact that physicians aren’t often recommending follow up care.
Dr. Gerard Gioia, Division Chief of Neuropsychology and the Director of the Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery & Education Program at the Children’s National Health System, spoke to the importance of focusing great attention and research on the pediatric population when it comes to concussions.
Multiple panelists also noted the progress that occurred in the last decade, but stressed the importance of continued collaboration within the research community and the need for better mechanisms to track patients for longer periods of time.
The committee first announced its comprehensive review of concussions in December 2015. The goal is to bring experts from a wide variety of fields - medical, military, sports leagues, and other stakeholders - to advance the understanding of these complex and traumatic brain injuries.
