What is the difference in concussion management in children as compared with adults? A systematic review
- PMID: 28455361
- DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-097415
What is the difference in concussion management in children as compared with adults? A systematic review
Abstract
Aim: To evaluate the evidence regarding the management of sport-related concussion (SRC) in children and adolescents. The eight subquestions included the effects of age on symptoms and outcome, normal and prolonged duration, the role of computerised neuropsychological tests (CNTs), the role of rest, and strategies for return to school and return to sport (RTSp).
Design: Systematic review.
Data sources: MEDLINE (OVID), Embase (OVID) and PsycInfo (OVID).
Eligibility criteria for selecting studies: Studies were included if they were original research on SRC in children aged 5 years to 18 years, and excluded if they were review articles, or did not focus on childhood SRC.
Results: A total of 5853 articles were identified, and 134 articles met the inclusion criteria. Some articles were common to multiple subquestions. Very few studies examined SRC in young children, aged 5-12 years.
Summary/conclusions: This systematic review recommends that in children: child and adolescent age-specific paradigms should be applied; child-validated symptom rating scales should be used; the widespread routine use of baseline CNT is not recommended; the expected duration of symptoms associated with SRC is less than 4 weeks; prolonged recovery be defined as symptomatic for greater than 4 weeks; a brief period of cognitive and physical rest should be followed with gradual symptom-limited physical and cognitive activity; all schools be encouraged to have a concussion policy and should offer appropriate academic accommodations and support to students recovering from SRC; and children and adolescents should not RTSp until they have successfully returned to school, however early introduction of symptom-limited physical activity is appropriate.
Systematic review registration: PROSPERO 2016:CRD42016039184.
Keywords: Concussion; adolescents; children; sport.
© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.
Conflict of interest statement
Competing interests: GAD is an honorary member of the Australian Football League Concussion Working Group and has attended meetings organised by sporting organisations including the NFL (USA), National Rugby League (Australia) and FIFA(Switzerland); however, he has not received any payment, research funding or other monies from these groups other than for travel costs. GAG receives royalties as a test author from Psychological Assessment Resources, receives research funding from the CDC and NIH, receives speaking Honoria for professional lectures, and is on the pediatric mild traumatic brain injury guidelines panel of the CDC. CCG receives grants/research support from NIH, NCAA, DoD, Today’s and Tomorrow’s Children Fund, UCLA Brain Injury Research Center, UCLA Faculty Grants Program, UCLA Steve Tisch Brain SPORT program, Avanir (research grant 2016-2017), NINDS Neural Analytics SBIR grant (2016-2018) Consultant:NFL-Neurological Care Program, NHLPA, Neural Analytics Inc (2015-16), is on the advisory panel of Love Your Brain, MLS, NBA, NCAA, USSF, performs medicolegal work 1-2 cases annually, and speaks on the Medical Education Speakers Network. WM has received research grants from National Hockey League Alumni Association & NFL Players Association, receives publishing royalties from Wolters Kluwer, Springer International & ABC-Clio publishing. RSM receives consultancy fees from Leigh Valley Hospital, is the owner/director of Sports Concussion Center of New Jersey, speakers fees from National Academy of Neuropsychology; Nemours Dupont Children's Hospital; Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, NJ., Pearson International, publishing royalties from Dartmouth College Press, & Psychology Press, and travel expenses from Moms TEAM Institute. LP is an expert consultant to mdBriefcase in the development of an online concussion education module and has received speaking honoraria/travel expenses for presentations at scientific meetings. PS serves as a scientific consultant to ImPACT Applications, Inc., and is a member of their scientific advisory board. KJS has received speaking honoraria for presentations at scientific meetings. She is a physiotherapy consultant at Evidence Sport and Spinal Therapy in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and for athletic teams. MT has received research grant from Royal Children's Hospital Foundation. KOY has received grant funding from NIH and Canadian Institutes of Health Research and book royalties from Guilford Press and Cambridge University Press and has occasionally served as an expert witness in forensic cases; he is President-Elect of the International Neuropsychological Society and a member of the Expert Panel on Acute Diagnosis and Management of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury among Children and Adolescents convened by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RZ holds active grants in pediatric concussion from CIHR, Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation, and the Ontario SPOR Support Unit; and his work is partially supported by the University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute through a clinical research chair in pediatric concussion. VA, FEB have nothing to declare.
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