A male soccer player was struck in the head with a soccer ball. Players state that he was dazed for several seconds following the impact and then asked the same questions over and over. Presently, he is conscious and oriented to person, but confused to place and time. He also has a reddened area to the side of his head and face. As you proceed with your assessment, his memory continues to improve. Based on these findings, the EMT should suspect which of the following injuries?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The player's confusion and memory loss, as well as the reddened area on the side of his head and face, are consistent with a concussion. An open head injury would involve a scalp or skull laceration, but the description does not indicate any visible signs of an open wound. An epidural hematoma would present with a rapidly deteriorating level of consciousness, which is not described in this scenario. A cerebral contusion involves bruising of the brain tissue, but there is no indication of any specific focal neurological deficits in this case.

A Male Soccer Player Was Struck in the Head with a Soccer