Citation

Dinsmore M, Hajat Z, Brenna CTA, Fisher J, Venkatraghavan L. Br. J. Sports Med. 2021; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bjsports-2021-103961

PMID

34824061

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mild internal jugular vein (IJV) compression, aimed at increasing intracranial fluid volume to prevent motion of the brain relative to the skull, has reduced brain injury markers in athletes suffering repeated traumatic brain injuries. However, an increase in intracranial volume with IJV compression has not been well demonstrated. This study used transorbital ultrasound to identify changes in optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) as a direct marker of accompanying changes in intracranial volume.

METHODS: Nineteen young, healthy adult volunteers (13 males and 6 females) underwent IJV compression of 20 cm H(2)O low in the neck, while in upright posture. IJV cross-sectional area at the level of the cricoid cartilage, and the change in right ONSD 3 mm behind the papillary segment of the optic nerve, were measured by ultrasound. Statistical analysis was performed using a paired t-test with Bonferroni correction.

RESULTS: Mean (SD) cross-sectional area for the right IJV before and after IJV compression was 0.10 (0.05) cm(2) and 0.57 (0.37) cm(2), respectively (p=0.001). ONSD before and after IJV compression was 4.6 (0.5) mm and 4.9 (0.5) mm, respectively (p=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: These data verify increased cerebral volume following IJV compression, supporting the potential for reduced brain 'slosh' as a mechanism connecting IJV compression to possibly reducing traumatic brain injury following head trauma.

TBI

Language: en

Keywords

brain concussion