Citation

McGeown JP, Hume PA, Kara S, Neary JP, Gardner W. Sports Med. Open 2019; 5(1): e8.

Affiliation

Auckland, New Zealand.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1186/s40798-019-0181-4

PMID

30830510

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Within the last two decades, attitudes have shifted from considering sports-related concussion as an insignificant minor injury with no long-term repercussions to a potentially serious brain injury garnering attention from media, clinicians, researchers, and the general public.

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a case study to determine the underlying cause of persistent issues suspected to be associated with a history of sports-related concussion. PROTOCOL: Participant A underwent neurophysiological testing following the Neary protocol (assessment of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular variables), comprehensive concussion assessment at a dedicated sports concussion clinic (history, neurological assessment, cervical spine screening, vestibulo-ocular screening, SCAT-5, and exercise testing), referral to a neurologist, structural MRI scan, and referral for specialised assessment at a dedicated dizziness and balance centre.

RESULTS: Despite a history of multiple sports-related concussions, Participant A's persistent symptom reports were associated with peripheral vestibular dysfunction and otolithic dysfunction seemingly unrelated to his concussion history.

DISCUSSION: Lessons from Participant A's case study showed that on-going symptoms that patients may associate with the effects of concussions may instead be due to unrelated causes that share similar symptomology.

CONCLUSION: This research exemplifies the importance of a multi-disciplinary assessment using a repeated testing protocol.

Language: en

Keywords

Assessment; Concussion; Persistent symptoms; Sports medicine; Vestibular