Assessment of Follow-up Care After Emergency Department Presentation for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion

Abstract Background: Post-traumatic headache (PTH) is a common symptom following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Patients at risk to develop acute PTH (aPTH) and further persistent PTH (pPTH) need to be recognized. Methods: This is a one-year follow-up of 127 patients with mTBI, aged 18 to 68, referred to outpatient clinic in the Helsinki University Hospital. Symptoms were assessed at the emergency department (ED), with structured interview at outpatient clinic visit and with Rivermead post-concussion symptom questionnaire at one, three, and 12 months after injury. Psychiatric disorders were assessed with Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders at 3-4 months and return to work (RTW) from patient records. Results: At one month, 77/127 patients (61%) had aPTH. According to multiple logistic regression analysis, risk factors for aPTH were headache at the emergency department (ED) (OR 5.43), other pain (OR 3.19), insomnia (OR 3.23), and vertigo (OR 5.98). At three months, 17 patients (22% of aPTH patients) had developed pPTH, and at one year, 4 patients (24% of pPTH patients) still presented with pPTH. Risk factors for pPTH at three months were older age (OR 1.06) and current insomnia (OR 12.3). The frequency of psychiatric disorders did not differ between the groups. pPTH patients performed worse on their RTW. Conclusions: Risk factors for aPTH were insomnia, headache at ED, other pain, and vertigo and for pPTH, insomnia and older age. RTW rate was lower among pPTH patients.

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Determinants of Follow-Up Care for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in a VA Polytrauma Support Clinic

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e662192012-001 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Traci M. Scherdell ◽

Patricia B. Ryan ◽

Moira C. Dux ◽

Terry Lee-Wilk ◽

Alison N. Cernich

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Follow Up Care

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Incidence of Neck Pain in Pediatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in the Emergency Department

Neurology ◽

10.1212/01.wnl.0000719964.14901.15 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 95 (20 Supplement 1) ◽

pp. S10.3-S11

Author(s):

Brieana Hope Rodriguez ◽

Danny Thomas

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Emergency Department ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Neck Pain ◽

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Motor Vehicle ◽

Pediatric Population ◽

Motor Vehicle Accidents ◽

Vehicle Accidents

ObjectiveTo determine (1) the frequency of reported cervical spine pain in patients diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin emergency department (ED), and (2) the predictors of number of follow up visits for concussion related symptoms between those with and without neck pain.BackgroundThere has been little research on the frequency of concomitant injury, specifically neck pain associated with TBI in the pediatric population. Given the potential influence of neck pain on recovery from mTBI, we sought to report on the frequency of reported neck pain in the sample of pediatric ED patients reporting mTBI symptoms.Design/MethodsThe sample was obtained through a retrospective analysis in the setting of Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Emergency Department with a subject selection of patients diagnosed with a concussion/mTBI between the dates of 11/1/2015–06/30/2018.ResultsWe analyzed 652 charts. The frequency of reported neck pain in the pediatric population being evaluated for mTBI in the ED was 13.8%. Of these patients, 32.2% had subsequent follow up visits related to their concussion/neck pain compared to 31.1% in patients without neck pain in the ED. In regards to the TBI cause, 47.8% were due to accidental falls, 40.3% were due to other accidents not related to motor vehicles, and 10.0% were due to motor vehicle accidents.ConclusionsIn comparison to the adult mTBI population, the pediatric mTBI population had a significantly less reported frequency of neck pain in the ED. This is not surprising as the majority of adults presenting for concussions and neck pain are post-motor vehicle accidents, whereas the majority of children are presenting after accidental falls. There did not seem to be an association between concussions with concomitant neck pain and prolonged recovery or increased morbidity as determined by follow up visits.

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