House Committee Takes Important Step Forward Regarding Concussion Awareness
Neurosurgeons Applaud the Energy and Commerce Committee for Hosting Concussion Roundtable
Washington, DC—The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and Congress of
Neurological Surgeons (CNS) commend the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee for launching
a broad review surrounding the causes, effects and treatments for concussions. We are hopeful that
today’s initial roundtable — which brought together experts from the medical, military, athletic and
research communities — will increase collaboration and expand the body of knowledge to help improve
the diagnosis and treatments of concussions.
Geoffrey T. Manley, MD, PhD, FAANS, past-chair of the AANS/CNS Section on Neurotrauma and
Critical Care, Chief of Neurosurgery at San Francisco General Hospital and Professor of Neurosurgery at
the University of California at San Francisco, participated in the roundtable. An internationally
recognized expert in neurotrauma, Dr. Manley understands the importance of neurosurgeons taking a lead
role in the prevention, management and treatment of traumatic brain injury. Committed to improving the
science of concussions, Dr. Manley serves a principal investigator for the NIH-funded, multicenter
Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury — or TRACK-TBI — study.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year in the United States, at least 1.7
million people suffer a traumatic brain injury, and it is a contributing factor in one-third of all injury related deaths. An estimated 3.2 to 5.3 million people live with the long-term physical, cognitive and
psychological health disabilities of TBI, at an annual cost of more than $76 billion.
Neurosurgeons have long been involved in the diagnosis and care of individuals with brain-related
injuries, and the specialty’s neurotrauma experts are furthering knowledge on concussions through
clinical and basic science research. Additionally, the profession has helped shaped current guidelines for
the evaluation and treatment of TBI and is actively involved in developing public policy related to TBI
and concussions. Given the magnitude of the issue and the impact on society, the AANS and CNS
launched a Neurosurgery Blog series called “Hard Knocks” and neurosurgeons work closely with the
ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation.
“Organized neurosurgery is steadfast in our commitment to raise awareness about concussions to ensure
the safety of the public,” said Shelly D. Timmons, MD, PhD, FACS, FAANS, a neurosurgeon from
Danville, Penn. and chair of the AANS/CNS Washington Committee. “We applaud the leadership of
Energy and Commerce Committee chairman, Fred Upton, as well as Oversight and Investigations
Subcommittee chair, Tim Murphy, for their leadership on the issue of concussions and believe today’s
roundtable is a positive step in the right direction.”
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