Citation

Schmidt JD, Hoffman NL, Ranchet M, Miller LS, Tomporowski PD, Akinwuntan AE, Devos H. J. Neurotrauma 2016; 34(8): 1571-1578.

Affiliation

University of Kansas Medical Center, 21638, Kansas City, Kansas, United States ; hdevos@augusta.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Mary Ann Liebert Publishers)

DOI

10.1089/neu.2016.4668

PMID

27959745

Abstract

Post-concussion impairments may result in unsafe driving performance, but little research is available to guide consensus on when concussed individuals should return to driving. The purpose of this study was to compare driving performance between individuals with and without a concussion and to explore relationships between neuropsychological and driving performance. Fourteen participants with concussion (Age:20.2±0.9yo) and 14 non-concussed age and driving experience matched controls (Age:20.4±1.1yo) completed a graded symptom checklist, a brief neuropsychological exam, and a 20.5km driving simulation task. Participants with a concussion completed driving simulation within 48 hours of becoming asymptomatic (15.9±9.0 days post-concussion). One-way ANOVAs were used to compare total number of crashes, tickets, lane excursions; as well as standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP), and standard deviation of speed. Pearson's correlations were conducted to explore the relationship between the neuropsychological and driving performance separately by group (α=0.05). Participants with a concussion committed more frequent lane excursions (concussed:10.9±4.5; controls:7.4±2.4; p=0.017) and exhibited greater SDLP compared to controls during the first (concussed:45.7±21.3cm, controls:27.4±6.1cm; p=0.030) and final curve (concussed:39.6±24.4cm; controls:33.5±21.3cm; p=0.036). Poorer performance on symbol digit modalities (r=-0.54), Rey Osterrieth Complex Figure (r=-0.53), verbal memory (r=-0.77), and motor speed (r=-0.54) were correlated with more frequent lane excursions among the concussed group, but not the control group. Despite being asymptomatic, concussed participants exhibited poorer vehicle control, especially when navigating curves. Driving impairments may persist beyond when individuals with a concussion have returned to driving. Our study provides preliminary guidance regarding which neuropsychological functions may best indicate driving impairment following concussion.

Language: en