Boxer Maxim Dadashev died from injuries he suffered in a fight last Friday night. The 28-year-old was pummeled during 11 rounds before his trainer called the fight. Immediately following, Dadashev began vomiting and was rushed to a local hospital where he fell into a coma and later died.
Brain surgeon Martin Mortazavi, M.D., medical director of the California Institute of Neuroscience, did not treat Dadashev but often treats athletes who have suffered sports-related traumatic brain injuries. He says that the injuries the boxer sustained was equivalent to being hit with a 13-pound bowling ball traveling 20 miles per hour or about 52 times the force of gravity. Studies show that 15-40% of ex-boxers have been found to have symptoms of chronic brain injury.
But such trauma is not limited to boxers and, in fact, boxing is not among the sports with the most injuries. Here are the top 5 with the number of brain injury incidents in a single year:

· Cycling: 85,389
· Football: 46,948
· Baseball and Softball: 38,394
· Basketball: 34,692
· Water Sports (Diving, Scuba Diving, Surfing, Swimming, Water Polo, Water Skiing, Water Tubing): 28,716

Between 1.6 million-3.8 million traumatic brain injuries are seen in sports each year in the United States. Particularly troubling is that sports and recreational activities contribute to about 21% of all traumatic brain injuries among American children and adolescents.
Mortazavi says that traumatic brain injuries result from a blow or jolt to the head that disrupts the normal function of the brain. Symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe, depending on the extent of damage to the brain. It can cause concussion, contusion or bleeding in or outside the brain. While mild cases may result in a brief change in mental state or consciousness, more severe cases like Dadashev’s may result in extended periods of unconsciousness, coma or even death.
Mortazavi says that taking precautions like wearing concussion-proof helmets is key to avoiding such potentially life-threatening incidents. Also, should you experience a blow to your head, remove yourself immediately from that activity and get some rest. If you feel nauseas or other experience other complications seek immediate medical attention.
California Institute of Neuroscience has earned a stellar reputation in the prevention, diagnosis, surgical treatment and post-surgical aspects of a range of disorders affecting the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves and cerebrovascular system. The team, who are experts at treating aneurysms, AVM, skull base tumors such as pituitary tumors, acoustic neuromas, and meningiomas, trigeminal neuralgia, and any other medical condition related to the brain and spine, employ the safest and latest technology to give patients a new lease on life.
Among the areas of specialty: neurology, neurosurgery, psychology, psychiatry, cranial maxillofacial plastic surgery, spine/peripheral neurosurgery and neuro-ophthalmology. These comprehensive services offer the patient a holistic approach to care not commonly found in typical neurosurgical practices. Visit cineuro.org or call (805) 795-7656.