Risk of Multiple Injuries

Everyone should be aware of the grave risks of multiple injuries. Primary head injury can be catastrophic, but the effects of repetitive head injuries can be quite serious. Second-impact syndrome (SIS), a term coined in 1984, describes a situation in which an individual sustains a second head injury before the symptoms from the first head injury have resolved.

A person with a history of repeated mild TBIs or concussions may:

• Experience a longer recovery or more severe symptoms.
• Have long-term problems, including ongoing problems with concentration, memory, headache, and occasionally, physical skills, such as keeping one’s balance.

Currently, a great deal of attention to the effects of repeated brain injury centers around Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive and fatal brain disease. Learn more about CTE on the CDC Website.