A prospective study of symptoms and neurocognitive outcomes in youth with concussion vs orthopaedic injuries

Abstract

As expected, more post-concussion symptoms were initially reported by children and adolescents with mTBI vs orthopaedic injury, but there was no difference at 3 months. The BRIEF and ImPACT cognitive measures did not differentiate concussed subjects from controls, with the exception of concussed subjects' lower performance on a visual memory test at both initial assessment and at 3 months.

Post-concussive Symptoms and Neuropsychological Performance in the Post-acute Period following Pediatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

“…Hence, further research is needed to improve the understanding of the etiology of PCS, specifically regarding the differential influence of injury and non-injury related factors on long-term PCS. Consistent with previous studies, our results showed that socio-behavioral and neuropsychological outcome were comparable between children after mTBI and OI in the postacute period (Asarnow et al, 1995;Babikian et al, 2011;Maillard-Wermelinger et al, 2009;Rieger et al, 2013). With the exception of an improved processing speed over time, no further group or time changes were found.…”

Neurocognitive testing in the emergency department: A potential assessment tool for mild traumatic brain injury

“…There are limited comparable data on neurocognitive testing in the ED, with most assessments occurring in the sub‐acute time period. In similar studies, results have been mixed, with slower reaction times being demonstrated by the majority, but not all studies . Visual memory dysfunction was also found in mTBI patients; however, equivocal findings have also been noted .…”

“…In similar studies, results have been mixed, with slower reaction times being demonstrated by the majority, but not all studies . Visual memory dysfunction was also found in mTBI patients; however, equivocal findings have also been noted . Measures of executive functioning are not commonly included in acute testing; with just one previous study finding no differences between mTBI and orthopaedic controls on the CNS Vital Signs computerised battery Stroop task and shifting attention tests .…”

Neurocognition in the Emergency Department after a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Youth

“…A recent study using computerized cognitive testing (ImPACT) found visual memory deficits in 8 to 17 year olds with mTBIs who were tested within 72 h of the injury, 12 but not an acute effect on processing speed or reaction time. Interestingly, these latter cognitive domains of psychomotor speed and reaction time (but not memory performance) were significantly worse in an adult sample with mTBI who were tested using ImPACT in the ED within 48 h of their injury.…”

“…10 In contrast, two studies using computerized cognitive assessment techniques found significant differences in cognitive scores, compared to population norms, 11 and orthopedic controls. 12 Nance and colleagues administered the Immediate Postconcussion Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT), a brief computerized measure of cognition, to 11 to 17 yearolds who were hospitalized after an mTBI. 11 At a mean duration of 2.1 days post-mTBI, hospitalized patients had cognitive scores that were lower than population values (e.g., approximately one third had all cognitive scores below the 25th percentile).…”