Individualizing medical suspension after knockout in boxing-no two knockouts are the same

Abstract

Professional boxing carries high risk of acute traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Subdural hematoma is the most common neurological cause of boxing related mortality. Other acute TBIs in boxing include epidural hematoma, intracranial hematoma, cerebral contusions, dissection of large vessels of the neck and concussion. Concussion or mild TBI is common in a sport like boxing where every punch thrown at the head is thrown with the idea of winning by causing a knockout (KO) which is nothing but a concussive injury of the brain. After a KO, the boxer is typically given a medical suspension. The adequate duration of medical suspension after a KO has neither been determined nor standardized.