Concussion Grading Systems - Cantu Guidelines

Cantu Guidelines

The Cantu guidelines, published in 1986 by Dr. Robert Cantu of Boston University, classify an injury associated with no loss of consciousness and less than 30 minutes of post-traumatic amnesia as grade I. In grade II, the patient loses consciousness for less than 5 minutes or experiences amnesia for between 30 minutes and 24 hours. In grade III, loss of consciousness lasts longer than 5 minutes or amnesia lasts longer than 24 hours. The most commonly seen type of concussion is a grade I by this guideline.

In a 2001 update, Cantu changed the guidelines to include other concussion signs and symptoms in addition to amnesia in the grading criteria. He also changed the grade II criteria to include only concussions with loss of consciousness for less than 1 minute, and included those with loss of consciousness for greater than 1 minute, or with signs or symptoms lasting over a week, under grade III. More than one grade III concussion during a professional or collegiate athlete's career may lead health professionals to recommend that the player cease playing the sport.

Cantu, a medical doctor, clinical professor of neurosurgery at Boston University School of Medicine and co-founder in 2008 and co-director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at BUSM, is also senior advisor to the NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee.