I have serious questions surrounding the medical care of Michigan State QB Brian Lewerke & his apparent concussion in the Illinois game last week. Based on the player’s self-report, I believe Lewerke should be diagnosed with a concussion. Thread 👇freep.com/story/sports/c…
Disclosure: MSU invited me to lecture on concussions & CTE last year, & I have a tremendous amount of respect for the medical team. But I feel the need to speak up as I believe public statements are setting the wrong example for youth sports on concussion recognition & response.
Video: Watch MSU QB Brian Lewerke run left and strike his head on an opponent's knee. He is clearly slow to get up, and his teammate immediately waived to the sideline, presumably for medical help.
He stayed in the game. The next play he threw a bad interception.
He stayed in the game. The next play he threw a bad interception.
In retrospect, the interception appears caused by the hit, as postgame he admitted he had acute #concussion symptoms in that moment: “My head was ringing for a little bit, but it was nothing serious, I don’t think. It was a tough hit and definitely rung my bell for a little bit.”
Self-reporting is the GOLD STANDARD for diagnosing a concussion. Lewerke admits the symptoms of a concussion, but uses a euphemism, "bell rung."
I think he should have been diagnosed with a concussion due to that self-report.
I think he should have been diagnosed with a concussion due to that self-report.
Despite clear signs of a concussion, Lewerke did not go through a #concussion protocol in-game. Coach Dantonio: “No, we didn't go through any protocol. We looked at him very quickly. I asked him & he said he's good, & he motioned that to our trainers as well, so he just went on.”
This is now MSU's statement (1/2): "Upon returning to the sideline late in the fourth quarter with under five minutes remaining, Brian Lewerke was given a symptom assessment by our medical staff. After not showing signs of a concussion, he was cleared to play.”
It's important to point out that being given "a symptom assessment" is not going through a full concussion protocol. My read is this is a tacit admission he was not fully evaluated, but they know he should have been.
MSU also said: (2/2) “As a precautionary measure, Brian was given further testing the following day, & was once again determined not to have a concussion.
I strongly disagree. The concussion evaluation he was given the next day DOES NOT TRUMP that he said TWICE his bell was rung
I strongly disagree. The concussion evaluation he was given the next day DOES NOT TRUMP that he said TWICE his bell was rung
In 2019, I can no longer accept a major college, who makes a lot of money from football, claiming an athlete showing #concussion signs & admitting his bell was rung is not a #concussion.
It's possible that Lewerke is now being medically handled like he has a concussion, and the team’s statements are trying to protect their reputation, avoid liability, or even protect Lewerke’s draft status by not calling it a concussion.
Sorry to stir up a hornet's nest, but I can't let the university undo years of public education by disregarding clear #concussion signs, passing off a symptom check as a full sideline evaluation, and dismissing a clear self-report.
If a coach or parent follows this lead & doesn't give a full sideline #concussion evaluation to a child who gets up slowly after a hard head impact, & then ignores them admitting their "bell was rung", returning them to play could lead the child dying from second-impact syndrome
Thank you @chrissolari for reporting on this and asking good questions, but I don’t think this story is over. I’d love to know the answers to the questions in this thread.
