As the 2025 Korea Professional Baseball season kicks off and baseball fans' excitement rises, there have recently been a series of headshot incidents in which players are struck in the head by pitches during games.
Such severe head impacts can cause a variety of traumatic brain injuries (TBI), including concussions, and may have significant effects not only on life but also on long-term neurological function. Therefore, special caution is required.
It is important to note that this risk is not limited to professional baseball players. Ordinary people can also be exposed to traumatic brain injuries in everyday life due to various causes such as falls, traffic accidents, sports, assaults, and industrial accidents. To prevent this, it is crucial to have an accurate understanding of traumatic brain injury and to be familiar with prompt response measures.
Traumatic brain injury refers to a condition in which the brain is damaged due to strong external impact or pressure. Depending on the location and intensity of the impact, a wide range of symptoms may occur, including decreased consciousness, headache, vomiting, dizziness, memory impairment, visual disturbances, hearing loss, and mood changes. These symptoms can range from mild concussions to those caused by severe skull fractures, brain hemorrhages, or brain swelling.
In the event of an accident, it is extremely important to check the patient's level of consciousness. Overall symptoms such as sensory function, reflexes, and motor ability should be assessed, and imaging tests such as CT or MRI are used to diagnose skull fractures, brain hemorrhages, or brain swelling.
If there is no loss of consciousness and the symptoms are mild, such as in the case of a mild concussion, rest and medication to relieve symptoms like headache and dizziness are recommended. The patient should be observed for more than a day, and if symptoms improve, a gradual return to daily activities is possible. However, if symptoms such as headache, vomiting, or changes in consciousness persist or worsen, immediate re-evaluation by medical professionals is necessary.
If there has been a loss of consciousness or if the patient experiences severe headaches, they should immediately seek help by calling 119 and visit a medical facility. It is necessary to check for skull fractures, subarachnoid, intracerebral, subdural, or epidural hemorrhages, as well as swelling and increased intracranial pressure, and to provide prompt neurosurgical treatment.
Kim Byungjin, Director of the Cerebrovascular Center at Daedong Hospital (neurosurgeon), emphasized, "Traumatic brain injury can cause serious health problems beyond simple bruises. In particular, if you receive a direct blow to the head, it is extremely important not to take temporary headaches or dizziness lightly but to undergo a thorough examination at a medical facility immediately."
He added, "Repeated head impacts can cause various brain diseases, and brain injury itself can result in serious disabilities. Therefore, even minor impacts should not be ignored but managed carefully, and strictly following safety rules in daily life is essential for maintaining a healthy life."
To prevent traumatic brain injury, it is crucial to minimize the possibility of impact and to always wear appropriate protective equipment and follow safety guidelines.
When riding in a vehicle, always wear a seatbelt and obey traffic laws. When using bicycles, motorcycles, kickboards, or other means of transportation, it is essential to wear a helmet and protective gear, as well as to follow traffic regulations.
In high-impact sports such as boxing, rugby, hockey, and American football, as well as in any sport with a risk of collision or falling, it is essential to follow safety rules and wear protective equipment. If an impact occurs, all activity should be stopped and a physical evaluation should be conducted.
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