Citation

Fure SCR, Howe EI, Spjelkavik, Røe C, Rike PO, Olsen A, Ponsford J, Andelic N, Løvstad M. Brain Inj. 2021; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/02699052.2021.1953593

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To present pre-injury, injury-related, work-related and post-injury characteristics, and to compare patients with and without traumatic intracranial abnormalities, in a treatment-seeking sample with persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) after mild-to-moderate TBI.

METHODS: Cross-sectional design in the context of a specialized TBI outpatient clinic. Eligible patients were aged 18-60 years, employed ≥ 50% at time of injury, and sick listed ≥ 50% at inclusion due to PPCS. Data were collected 8-12 weeks after injury through review of medical records, semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, and neuropsychological screening.

RESULTS: The study included 116 patients, of whom 60% were women, and predominantly white-collar workers in full-time positions. Ninety-four percent had a mild TBI, and 23% had intracranial abnormalities. The full sample reported high somatic, emotional, and cognitive symptom burden, and decreased health-related quality of life. Patients with normal CT/MRI results reported higher overall symptom burden, while patients with intracranial abnormalities had worse memory function.

CONCLUSION: Injury severity and traumatic intracranial radiological findings should not be the sole ground for planning of rehabilitation service provision in patients with PPCS, as subjective complaints do not necessarily co-vary with these variables.

Language: en

Keywords

Traumatic brain injury; concussion; persistent post-concussion symptoms; post-concussive symptoms; the rivermead post-concussion symptom questionnaire