AOCOPM 2023 Midyear Educational Conference-H - Flying After Concussion

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Tara Sharma, a board-certified neurologist and sports neurologist, discussed air travel's impact on traumatic brain injury (TBI) recovery, emphasizing mild TBI and concussion. Her presentation highlighted how air travel can influence symptom severity and recovery rates in TBI patients. She outlined the Federal Aviation Administration's guidelines for pilots with concussions or TBIs and how these differ from clinical practices. Dr. Sharma also discussed the role of neuropsychological testing in determining a pilot's readiness to return to flight after a TBI, focusing particularly on common complications such as seizures and epilepsy. She reviewed studies indicating that flight generally doesn’t significantly affect concussion recovery, citing military and civilian research showing minimal in-flight symptoms like headache or nausea, especially in short-haul flights. Long-haul impacts, however, require further study. Sharma discussed hypoxia during flights, noting that while it might temporarily worsen symptoms, it does not greatly affect overall recovery. Emphasizing a multidisciplinary approach, she highlighted the importance of individualized care considering various stressors and lifestyle factors, and also delved into the potential for concussions to unlock predispositions to conditions like migraines, which can impact flying abilities.

Keywords

traumatic brain injury

TBI recovery

air travel impact

concussion

FAA guidelines

neuropsychological testing

seizures and epilepsy

hypoxia

individualized care