![Sample our Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Allied Health journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5944/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Medicine-Dentistry-Nursing-Allied-Health.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
Objective: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is common injury during childhood and adolescence but the long-term outcomes are poorly understood. This study examined post-concussive symptoms and behavioural outcomes in children and adolescents up to 24 months post-mTBI.
Method: Parents of children aged 8–15 years with mTBI completed the BASC-2 and Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire at baseline, 1-, 6-, 12- and 24 months post-injury. An age-matched traumatic brain injury-free cohort was recruited and assessed at 12- and 24 months.
Results: PCSs decreased significantly over the first 12 months post-injury. At 12- and 24 months post-injury, the mTBI group reported more PCSs and behavioural symptoms compared to controls. Parents of children with mTBI were more likely to report ≥4 problematic PCS symptoms (28% at both time points) compared to controls (7.7% and 1.7% at 12 and 24 months, respectively). The mTBI group was 4.63 times more likely to have four or more ongoing PCS symptoms at 12 months post-injury compared to controls. Headache was the most common acute post-injury symptom (55%), while the most commonly reported persistent symptoms were irritability, frustration, forgetfulness and fatigue.
Conclusions: PCSs are common 2 years post-mTBI in childhood or adolescence. Given this, additional intervention and support is needed for families post-injury.
Acknowledgements
We thank the participants for their willingness to be involved in the study, the research team involved in data collection and staff at Waikato District Health Board, Schools and Sports Clubs from Hamilton, New Zealand.
Declaration of interest
The authors report no conflict of interest.