Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 Jun:197:241-248.e1.
doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2018.01.075. Epub 2018 Apr 4.

Variations in Mechanisms of Injury for Children with Concussion

Juliet Haarbauer-Krupa  1 , Kristy B Arbogast  2 , Kristina B Metzger  3 , Arlene I Greenspan  4 , Ronni Kessler  3 , Allison E Curry  2 , Jeneita M Bell  4 , Lara DePadilla  4 , Melissa R Pfeiffer  3 , Mark R Zonfrillo  5 , Christina L Master  6
Affiliations

Variations in Mechanisms of Injury for Children with Concussion

Juliet Haarbauer-Krupa et al. J Pediatr. 2018 Jun.

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the distribution of injury mechanisms and activities among children with concussions in a large pediatric healthcare system.

Study design: All patients, age 0-17 years, who had at least 1 clinical encounter with an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis of concussion in the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's electronic health record system from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2014, were selected (N = 8233) and their initial concussion-related visit identified. Approximately, 20% of the patients (n = 1625) were randomly selected for manual record review to examine injury mechanisms and activities.

Results: Overall, 70% of concussions were sports related; however, this proportion varied by age. Only 18% of concussions sustained by children aged 0-4 were sports related, compared with greater proportions for older children (67% for age 5-11, 77% for age 12-14, and 73% for age 15-17). When the concussion was not sports related, the primary mechanisms of injury were struck by an object (30%) and falls (30%).

Conclusions: Sports-related injuries in children older than 6 years of age contributed to the majority of concussions in this cohort; however, it is important to note that approximately one-third of concussions were from non-sports-related activities. Although there is increased participation in community and organized sports activities among children, a focus on prevention efforts in other activities where concussions occur is needed.

Keywords: injury mechanism; pediatrics; traumatic brain injury.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure
Figure
Percentage of youth concussion with SRR activities by age in years (n = 1505).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Unintentional. [Accessed September 3, 2015]; http://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/data/index.html.
    1. Institute of Medicine (IOM) and National Research Council (NRC) Sports-related concussions in youth: Improving the science, changing the culture. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2013. - PubMed
    1. Metzl JD. Concussion in the young athlete. Pediatrics. 2006;117:1813. doi: 10.1542/peds.2006-0480. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Kirkwood MW, Yeates KO, Taylor HG, Randolph C, McCrea M, Anderson VA. Management of pediatric mild traumatic brain injury: a neuropsychological review from injury through recovery. Clin Neuropsychol. 2008;22:769–800. doi: 10.1080/13854040701543700. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Faul M, Xu L, Wald M, Coronado V. [Accessed September 12, 2013];Traumatic brain injury in the United States: emergency department visits, hospitalizations and deaths 2002–2006. 2010 http://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/pdf/blue_book.pdf.

Publication types