@article{ref1,
title="Contributions of PCSS, BESS, tandem gait, and romberg test for identifying balance deficits in pediatric concussions",
journal="Journal of head trauma rehabilitation",
year="2021",
author="Patel, Rishi D. and Labella, Cynthia R.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: Balance deficits are common after concussions in pediatric patients. This study evaluates 3 clinical tools for identifying postconcussion balance deficits in a pediatric population: (1) Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS); (2) Balance Error Scoring System (BESS); and (3) physical examination measures of balance: tandem gait (TG) and Romberg test. SETTING: Data were collected in a tertiary care outpatient pediatric sports medicine clinic. PARTICIPANTS: English-speaking patients aged 8 to 17 years who presented to a tertiary care hospital-based pediatric sports medicine clinic and diagnosed with concussion between August 2014 and February 2018 were invited to participate. A total of 614 patients were screened and/or approached during the inclusion period and 500 were enrolled. Of those enrolled, 423 patients had complete data collected and analyzed. <br><br>DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional, observational data set from a longitudinal, prospective study. MAIN MEASURES: Data extracted from patients' electronic medical records included physical examination, PCSS, and BESS scores from their initial visit. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the outcome measures. A logistic regression was performed to evaluate significant contributors to abnormal BESS score (≥25). <br><br>RESULTS: There were 423 patients (56.7% female; 14.7 ± 2.01 years old) included in the study. Overall, we identified 336 patients (79.4%) with balance difficulties. Of the 336 with balance difficulties, 284 (84.5%) reported &quot;balance problems&quot; and/or &quot;dizziness&quot; on PCSS, 153 (45.5%) had abnormal BESS scores (≥25), and 100 (29.8%) had an abnormality on either TG or Romberg test. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Balance difficulties were identified in close to 80% of children with concussions. Using PCSS and BESS along with physical examination measures, TG and Romberg test, identified more patients with balance deficits than using TG and Romberg test alone.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0885-9701",
doi="10.1097/HTR.0000000000000702",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/HTR.0000000000000702"
}