Concussion Center at Georgia Sports Medicine
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About Georgia Sports Medicine
Dr. Cullen is a sports medicine fellowship trained orthopaedic surgeon who has been a leader in sports medicine in the Atlanta area for over ten years. He serves as team physician for several Gwinnett County High Schools and is very active in community youth athletics. He provides a Saturday Injury Clinic for the assessment of sports injuries and concussions for local youth and high school athletes. He has been utilizing the ImPACT program for the past several years. Dr. Cullen has been an advocate for improved concussion management in the Atlanta Area. He has been active in educating coaches, athletic trainers, teachers and parents on proper management of concussions.
The physicians at Georgia Sports Medicine work in concert with the patient and their parents, the school administration, the athletic trainer and their coaches to coordinate the best care possible for the athlete. This coordinated effort allows for the best possible outcome for the athlete and insures a safe return to play. The focus of care is to provide education and concussion prevention, in addition to an individualized approach to concussion management. As an individual recovers from concussion, clinicians can determine when it is safe for the patient to return to sport competition and work activities. Recommendations regarding return to play are based on symptom assessment and post-injury neuropsychological assessment.
Schools Using ImPACT
Dr. Cullen has been instrumental in advancing the use of ImPACT in the Atlanta area. Through sponsorship with Gwinnett Medical Center, ImPACT will become available to all schools in Gwinnett County in 2008. Dr. Cullen serves as team physician for North Gwinnett HS, Dacula HS, St Pius X HS and Buford HS. With the addition of the web based testing program, Georgia Sports Medicine in conjunction with the Atlanta Falcons Foundation and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta hope to increase the number of schools utilizing ImPACT in the greater Atlanta area. We are currently assisting schools who are interested in adding ImPACT to their athletic program, as well as, creating a baseline testing center for local youth sports programs from the age of 13 and older.
Community Work and Involvement
Dr. Cullen serves as team physician for several Gwinnett County High schools and athletic clubs. He has been educating the local schools and youth sport programs on the injury of concussion. He has presented to the coaches of local high schools, hockey clubs, parent groups, sports medicine students, athletic trainers and high school administrators. Our goal is to educate as many people as possible on proper concussion management and prevention. He provides a Saturday Injury Clinic for the assessment of sports injuries and concussions for local youth and high school athletes.
ImPACT History:
ImPACT is a 25 minute computerized test that provides information regarding neurocognitive abilities which may have been adversely affected by concussion. ImPACT is utilized by professional hockey, football, and baseball organizations, in addition to numerous college and high schools. Prior to contact sport participation, it is recommended that athletes undergo a baseline evaluation by taking ImPACT in order to determine each individual's personal neurocognitive profile. Should an athlete experience a concussion, he or she is retested and the post concussion data are compared against the baseline (pre-injury) data. Based upon the post injury evaluation, information can be shared with the patient and family members regarding the severity of the injury, prognosis, and recommendations considering necessary academic or work-related accommodations, and when determined safe, an eventual return to play or work.