TY - JOUR PY - 2015// TI - Cognitive and physical symptoms of concussive injury in children: a detailed longitudinal recovery study JO - British journal of sports medicine A1 - Crowe, Louise A1 - Collie, Alex A1 - Hearps, Stephen A1 - Dooley, Julian A1 - Clausen, Helen A1 - Maddocks, David A1 - McCrory, Paul A1 - Davis, Gavin A1 - Anderson, Vicki SP - 311 EP - 316 VL - 50 IS - 5 N2 - BACKGROUND: Recovery from concussion sustained in childhood and adolescence is poorly understood. We explored patterns of recovery for neurocognition and postconcussive symptoms following concussion in children and adolescents.

METHODS: Using a prospective, longitudinal design, we collected baseline data on 728 children and adolescents aged 10-17 years. 10 participants sustained a concussive injury (n=10) in the 12 months following baseline testing and they were reviewed at day 5, 10 and 30 postconcussion. Assessments included the CogSport for Kids computerised test battery to evaluate neurocognitive function and self-report, and parent measures of postconcussive symptoms. At day 30, parents also completed measures rating their child's quality of life and executive functions.

RESULTS: Children and adolescents displayed a gradual reduction in postconcussive symptoms over the 30 days following injury. At day 5, 87% of participants were reporting physical and cognitive symptoms, with a generalised reduction in all symptoms by day 10 (40% of participants). On the computerised measure, reaction time was slower after concussion, but returned to baseline levels by day 30. At day 30, 10% of participants demonstrated ongoing postconcussive symptoms. Number of previous concussions was related to speed of symptom resolution.

CONCLUSIONS: At 5 days postconcussion, the majority of children and adolescents experienced debilitating postconcussive symptoms. However, by 30 days postinjury, 90% demonstrated recovery to normal for both neurocognition and postconcussive symptoms.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0306-3674 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-094663 ID - ref1 ER -