Is early activity resumption after paediatric concussion safe and does it reduce symptom burden at 2 weeks post injury? The Pediatric Concussion Assessment of Rest and Exertion (PedCARE) multicentre randomised clinical trial

TRANSCENDENT (Transforming Research by Assessing Neuroinformatics across the Spectrum of Concussion by Embedding iNterdisciplinary Data-collection to Enable Novel Treatments): protocol for a prospective observational cohort study of concussion patients with embedded comparative effectiveness research within a network of learning health system concussion clinics in Canada

INTRODUCTION

Concussion affects over 400 000 Canadians annually, with a range of causes and impacts on health-related quality of life. Research to date has disproportionately focused on athletes, military personnel and level I trauma centre patients, and may not be applicable to the broader community. The TRANSCENDENT Concussion Research Program aims to address patient- and clinician-identified research priorities, through the integration of clinical data from patients of all ages and injury mechanisms, patient-reported outcomes and objective biomarkers across factors of intersectionality. Seeking guidance from our Community Advisory Committee will ensure meaningful patient partnership and research findings that are relevant to the wider concussion community.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This prospective observational cohort study will recruit 5500 participants over 5 years from three 360 Concussion Care clinic locations across Ontario, Canada, with a subset of participants enrolling in specific objective assessments including testing of autonomic function, exercise tolerance, vision, advanced neuroimaging and fluid biomarkers. Analysis will be predicated on pre-specified research questions, and data shared with the Ontario Brain Institute's Brain-CODE database. This work will represent one of the largest concussion databases to date, and by sharing it, we will advance the field of concussion and prevent siloing within brain health research.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study was approved by the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Ethics Board and preregistered on OSF (25 June 2024); https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/HYDZC. Dissemination of findings will be multifaceted, including conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications and sharing of adapted materials (eg, videos, infographics, plain language summaries) with community groups and key knowledge users.

Impact of Early Activity and Behavioral Management on Acute Concussion Recovery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ARTICLE SUMMARY

Prescribed early physical activity and behavioral management did not improve outcomes in youth following acute concussion compared to the standard of care.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy of early physical activity and behavioral management for acute concussion in pediatric patients.

STUDY DESIGN

A multicenter, prospective, 2x2 factorial randomized controlled trial was conducted among patients aged 11-24 years who presented within 72 hours of injury. Participants were randomized into four groups based on early physical activity (or usual care) and behavioral management (or none). The early activity group was encouraged to meet step targets despite symptoms. The primary outcomes were post-concussion symptom severity and quality of life at 14 days post-enrollment.

RESULTS

A total of 239 participants were randomized, and 210 completed all study procedures. The early activity group demonstrated higher daily step counts compared with the usual care group. However, no significant differences were observed in post-concussion symptom severity or quality of life at 14 days between groups. The early activity group experienced higher daily post-concussion symptom severity during the first 7 days and took longer to recover compared with the usual care group. Behavioral management showed no effect on outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Early prescribed physical activity and behavioral management did not improve post-concussion outcomes in the first two weeks following injury. Early prescribed activity despite symptoms was associated with delayed symptom resolution. Clinical trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03869970.

Early Resumption of Physical Activity and Cognitive Outcomes at 4 Week Following Pediatric Concussion

BACKGROUND

Early physical activity (PA) after concussion may aid in symptom recovery, though its impact on other recovery domains, such as cognitive functioning, remains less explored.

OBJECTIVES

(1) Examine the association between early PA (within 7 days post-injury) and cognitive inefficiency and impairment 4 weeks after pediatric concussion; (2) investigate the association between early PA and cognitive outcomes (memory and executive functioning, information processing speed, attention, visual-motor processing, and vocabulary) 4-week post-concussion.

SETTING

Emergency departments (EDs) of four Canadian pediatric hospitals within the Pediatric Emergency Research Canada (PERC) Network.

PARTICIPANTS

Children aged 8-18 years presenting to the ED within 48 hours of a head injury and diagnosed with a concussion.

DESIGN

Planned secondary analysis of data from a prospective multicenter cohort study.

MAIN MEASURES

Participants' PA level was assessed at 1-week post-concussion through a self-report questionnaire in which they had to indicate their current level of recovery in terms of return to physical activities and sports. Early PA participation was defined as any level of PA other than "no activity" at the 1-week follow-up. Participants underwent comprehensive neuropsychological testing at 4-week post-concussion. Primary outcome measures included cognitive inefficiency and impairment (≥2 outcomes with z < -1.0 SD or <-1.5 SD below the normative mean, respectively). Secondary and tertiary outcome measures include t-scores and scaled scores from the 10 neuropsychological tasks, transformed to z-scores.

RESULTS

Early PA was not significantly associated with the likelihood of cognitive inefficiency or impairment (Ps ≥ .38). The early PA*sex interaction was related to verbal cognitive flexibility (P = .02), with females engaging in early PA having better scores. Moreover, the early PA*age interaction was associated with attention (P = .03), with younger children engaged in early PA performing worse.

CONCLUSIONS

Early PA has no overall association with cognitive inefficiency or impairment but may be differentially associated with certain cognitive outcomes by age and sex.

Association of early versus late care seeking for sport-related concussion in adolescent athletes in Canada: a historical cohort study

Objectives

This study aims to examine the association of time to recovery between early versus late presentation to outpatient community-based concussion management clinics following sport-related concussion (SRC) among adolescent Canadian athletes.

Methods

Using electronic health records (between January 2017 and December 2019) from the Complete Concussion Management Inc (CCMI) database, this was a historical cohort study of Canadian athletes aged 12-18 presenting for care early (0-7 days) or late (8-28 days) after SRC. Time-to-recovery was defined as the date of clinician clearance to return to sport. Propensity scores were first derived from logistic regression with early versus late clinical presentation as the outcome. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was then used to model the relationship between early versus late clinical presentation and time to recovery, while including the propensity score to adjust for confounding. The association was expressed using hazard rate ratios (HRR) with 95% CIs.

Results

A total of 4696 patient records (mean age of 14.71 (±1.69 SD); 57.7% male) were eligible. Early presentation to a concussion management clinic following SRC was associated with faster time to recovery (adjusted HRR 1.23; 95% CI 1.14 to 1.32, p<0.001). This association was consistent within each quintile of the propensity score. The median time to recovery was 18 versus 22 days in the early and late groups, respectively.

Conclusion

Adolescent athletes with SRC have favourable recovery trajectories when presenting for care up to 28 days. Time to recovery (clinician clearance to return to sport) may be quicker with an earlier presentation which can lead to a faster return to sport.

In People With Subacute Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Earlier Physical Therapy Improved Symptoms at a Faster Rate Than Later Physical Therapy: Randomized Controlled Trial

IMPORTANCE

There is unclear evidence on when to initiate physical therapy after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in a non-athlete, adult population.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate physical therapy timing after mTBI through changes in patient-reported and clinically-assessed tools and objective and mechanism measurements of sensorimotor balance control.

DESIGN

This study was an investigator-blinded randomized control trial (NCT03479541).

SETTING

The study took place at an academic research center.

PARTICIPANTS

Two hundred and three participants were randomized to earlier physical therapy (n = 82) or to later physical therapy (n = 121).

INTERVENTION

After enrollment, the earlier physical therapy group started rehabilitation within 1 week and the later group started rehabilitation after a 6-week wait period. All participants received similar rehabilitation; 6-week program administered and progressed by licensed physical therapists.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI). Secondary outcomes included common patient-reported/clinical assessments of mTBI and objective/mechanism measurements of balance, including novel measures of central sensorimotor integration. Differences between and within the groups on outcomes were examined with linear mixed-effect models, t tests, and effect sizes.

RESULTS

While both groups significantly improved and reached similar levels on patient-reported outcomes (DHI and secondary outcomes), the earlier physical therapy group had significantly larger and faster rates of improvement compared to later physical therapy. There were differential effects of physical therapy timing on the objective/mechanism-measured outcomes. Specifically, there were significant improvements in sensorimotor time delay for the earlier physical therapy group and no change in the later group. Further, the later group worsened in the motor activation components for balance control while there was no change in the early group.

CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE

Earlier physical therapy after mTBI can improve symptoms at a faster rate relative to later physical therapy. Earlier physical therapy also showed improvements in sensorimotor aspects of balance control, not seen in the later group. There may be an important window to address central sensorimotor deficits after mTBI.

The Role of Body Mass Index on Physical Activity, Symptoms, and Related Outcomes Following Pediatric Concussion

OBJECTIVE

To determine the step count and self-reported activity levels for obese and nonobese pediatric patients following concussion and predict self-reported symptoms, quality of life, and psychological health over time.

STUDY DESIGN

Participants completed the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS), Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL), and Behavioral Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18) at an initial visit (<72 hours), 3-5 days postinjury, 10-18 days postinjury, and 1 and 2 months postinjury. Physical activity data (eg, step count) were collected via a commercial actigraph. Participants were categorized into obese and nonobese body mass index (BMI) groups based on age- and sex-adjusted growth standards. Mann-Whitney U tests compared groups while nonparametric series regression models examined the effect of obese BMI and average daily step count on PCSS, PedsQL, and BSI-18 outcomes at 1 and 2 months postinjury.

RESULTS

One hundred ninety-four participants were included: 153 (78.9%; M = 14.6 ± 2.4 years; 50% female) in the nonobese group and 41 (21.1%; M = 14.2 ± 2.0 years; 44% female) in the obese group. The obese group had a 22.8% lower average daily step count in the week postinjury (P = .02). At 2 months, there was a significant association between obese BMI and worse PCSS total score (P = .042), PedsQL (P = .017), and BSI-18 anxiety (P = .046). Average daily step count in the first week postinjury was associated with a higher PCSS total score at 2 months (P = .031).

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric patients following concussion with an obese BMI had a lower daily average step count in the week after injury and exhibited worse concussion symptoms, quality of life, and anxiety at 2 months compared with those with a nonobese BMI.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Active Injury Management (AIM) after Pediatric Concussion: NCT03869970.

Identifying the 'Miserable Minority' Among Pediatric Patients Following Concussion

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether there are empirically-detectable subgroups of concussion severity and recovery across three consecutive concussions, as well as to define risk factor and clinical assessment differences across subgroups.

METHODS

The present study was a retrospective chart review of 202 adolescents 13.17 ± 1.99 years old who presented to a concussion specialty clinic within 30 days of injury for multiple injuries between 2019 and 2020. Participants included patients from a specialty clinic for two (n = 202) or three (n = 68) total concussions. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify subgroups based upon concussion symptom severity and recovery time. Risk factors (sex, age at first injury, and histories of anxiety, depression, migraine, motion sickness, ocular dysfunction, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] or learning disability [LD]) were compared across subgroups.

RESULTS

A two-class solution yielded one group of 163 participants characterized by lower symptoms and shorter recovery times (80.7%, "normal") and 39 participants (19.3%, "miserable minority") characterized by higher symptoms and longer recovery times. Only female sex (OR = 4.91, p = 0.005) was a significant predictor of class membership. The miserable group presented for treatment nearly 4 days later (9.41 days) compared to the normal group (5.74 days) for the first injury, and almost 2 days later for the second injury (7.33 vs 5.26 days).

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately 1 in 5 patients who presented to a concussion specialty clinic for a repeat concussion were classified in the miserable minority subgroup. This subgroup was characterized by markedly higher initial symptom burdens and over double the recovery time.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Retrospective cohort study, Level III evidence.

Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Symptom Burden and Quality of Life in Adults With Persisting Post-concussive Symptoms: The ACTBI Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate a 6-week sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise protocol (AEP) versus a stretching protocol (SP) on symptom burden and quality of life (QoL) in adults with persisting post-concussive symptoms (PPCS).

DESIGN

The Aerobic exercise for treatment of Chronic symptoms following mild Traumatic Brain Injury (ACTBI) Trial was a randomized controlled trial with 2 groups.

SETTING

Outpatient brain injury, pain, and physiotherapy clinics.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 210 participants were screened. A consecutive sample of 52 adults with PPCS and exercise intolerance after mild traumatic brain injury were enrolled. No participants withdrew because of the adverse effects of the intervention.

INTERVENTIONS

Participants were randomized to a 6-week AEP (n=27) or 6-week SP (n=25).

MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES

The Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included QoL using the QoL After Brain Injury Questionnaire, in addition to measures of mood, anxiety, functional impact of headache, fatigue, dizziness, exercise tolerance, and sleep.

RESULTS

Participants were a mean (SD) of 43.0 (10.9) years old (75% female) and 24.7 (14.0) months post-injury. In per-protocol analysis, between-group difference (AEP vs SP) was not significant for the Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire, but QoL After Brain Injury Questionnaire between-group difference was significant (mean change=5.024; 95% Cl, 0.057-9.992; P=.047) from baseline to 6 weeks. In the intention-to-treat analysis, between-group changes in primary and secondary outcomes were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

This trial provides preliminary data to support the prescription of aerobic exercise for adults with PPCS. Despite presenting with exercise intolerance, participants were able to engage in subsymptom threshold exercise with QoL benefits.

Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity in the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Sport-Related Concussion: A Content Analysis of Intervention Research and Call-To-Action

This review was designed to (1) determine the extent to which the clinical science on sport-related concussion treatment and rehabilitation has considered social determinants of health (SDoH) or health equity and (2) offer recommendations to enhance the incorporation of SDoH and health equity in concussion treatment research and clinical care. The Concussion in Sport Group consensus statement (2023) was informed by two systematic reviews examining prescribed rest or exercise following concussion and targeted interventions to facilitate concussion recovery. We examined 31 studies, including 2,698 participants, from those two reviews. Race (k = 6; 19.4%) and ethnicity (k = 4; 12.9%) of the study samples were usually not reported. Four studies examined ethnicity (i.e., Hispanic), exclusively as a demographic category. Five studies (16.1%) examined race as a demographic category. Three studies (9.7%) examined socioeconomic status (SES; measured as household income) as a demographic category/sample descriptor and one study (3.2%) examined SES in-depth, by testing whether the treatment and control groups differed by SES. Five studies examined an SDoH domain in a descriptive manner and four studies in an inferential/intentional manner. No study mentioned SDoH, health equity, or disparities by name. Many studies (61.3%) excluded participants based on demographic, sociocultural, or health factors, primarily due to language proficiency. The new consensus statement includes recommendations for concussion treatment and rehabilitation that rely on an evidence base that has not included SDoH or studies addressing health equity. Researchers are encouraged to design treatment and rehabilitation studies that focus specifically on underrepresented groups to determine if they have specific and unique treatment and rehabilitation needs, whether certain practical modifications to treatment protocols might be necessary, and whether completion rates and treatment adherence and response are similar.

Comparing return to play protocols after sports-related concussion among international sporting organisations

BACKGROUND

Return to play (RTP) protocols are an important part of recovery management following a sport-related concussion (SRC) and can prevent athletes from returning to competition too early and thereby avoid prolonged recovery times. To assist sporting organizations in the development of RTP guidelines, the Concussion in Sports Group (CISG) provides scientific-based recommendations for the management of SRC in its consensus statement on concussion in sport.

OBJECTIVES

This study investigates commonalities and differences among current RTP protocols of international sporting organizations and examines the implementation of the most recent CISG recommendations.

METHODS

Concussion guidelines and medical rules of 12 international sporting organizations from contact, collision and combat sports were accessed via the organizations websites and compared regarding the management of SRC and the RTP decision.

RESULTS

Only six of the included organizations developed and published their own concussion guidelines, which included an RTP protocol on their website. The number of steps until RTP was similar across the different protocols. Each protocol required at least one medical examination before clearing an athlete to RTP. A high variation among organizations was found for initial resting period after injury, the implementation of sport-specific training drills and the time needed to complete the protocol before returning to competition. At the date of this study (9 September 2023), none of the accessible RTP protocols were updated to include the latest version of the CISG consensus statement.

CONCLUSION

To improve the safety of athletes after a head injury, sporting organizations should develop sport-specific guidelines according to the latest CISG consensus statement, and this should be updated regularly. Implementation is especially important in combat sports, where there is a high incidence of head injury. Thus, there is a requirement for the most up-to-date concussion management protocols in these sports.

A controlled early-exercise rehabilitation program commencing within 48 hours of a Sports-Related Concussion improves recovery in UK student-athletes: A prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Explore if implementing an individualised Sub-Symptom Heart Rate Threshold (SSHeRT) rehabilitation program within 48 hours versus physical rest for 14 days affects recovery following SRC in university-aged student-athletes.

DESIGN

Prospective, observational cohort study.

METHODS

Two UK university-aged student-athlete rugby union cohorts were compared (Physical Rest Group (PRG), n = 140, July 2019-March 2020 and Controlled Early-Exercise Group (CEG), n = 167, July 2021-April 2023). Both groups completed the test battery (Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS), Immediate Post-Concussion and Cognitive Test (ImPACT), Vestibular-Ocular Motor Screening Tool (VOMS)) during pre-season to provide a baseline and within 48 hours, at 4, 8, 14-days post-SRC and at Return to Play (RTP). The PRG (n = 42) physically rested for 14 days as per the nationwide community guidelines. The CEG (n = 52) followed the SSHeRT rehabilitation program. Individual change to baseline was used in all analyses.

RESULTS

The CEG performed better on ImPACT's verbal memory at 4 (PRG; -5.5 (-10.8-0.0), CEG; 1.0 (-2.0-10.5), p = 0.05) and 14 days (PRG; -2.0 (-10.0-3.0), CEG; 4.0 (-1.0-11.0), p = 0.05) and on the VOMS at 4 (PRG; 3.0 (0.0-12.0), CEG; 0.0 (0.0-5.0), p = 0.03, OR; 2.910) and 14-days post-SRC (PRG; 0.0 (0.0-1.0), CEG; 0.0 (0.0-0.0), OR; 5.914). Near point convergence was better at all time points for the CEG. The CEG was 26.7 % more likely to have RTP within 30 days, and 6.7 and 5.1 times more likely to have resumed non-contact and contact academic activities by 4 days.

CONCLUSIONS

SSHeRT is safe, can be used within 48 hours of a SRC and may hasten university-aged student-athletes recovery following an SRC.

Applying Dynamical Systems Theory to Improve Personalized Medicine Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

A sizable proportion of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) have persistent symptoms and functional impairments months to years following injury. This phenomenon is continually observed despite an explosion of research and interest in improving mTBI clinical outcomes over the last two decades. All pharmacological clinical trials to date have failed to demonstrate improved outcomes for mTBI. One possible explanation for these continued failures is an overly myopic approach to treating mTBI (i.e., testing the effect of a single drug with a specific mechanism on a group of people with highly heterogenous injuries). Clinical presentation and prognosis of mTBI vary considerably between patients, and yet we continue to assess group-level effects of a homogenized treatment. We need to utilize an equally complex treatment approach to match the extraordinary complexity of the human brain. Dynamical systems theory has been used to describe systems composed of multiple subsystems who function somewhat independently but are ultimately interconnected. This theory was popularized in the motor control literature as an overarching framework for how the mind and body connect to interact and move through the environment. However, the human body can be viewed as a dynamical system composed of multiple subsystems (i.e., organ systems) who have isolated functions, which are also codependent on the health and performance of other interconnected organ systems. In this perspective piece, we will use the example of mTBI in the obese patient to demonstrate how broadening our approach to treatment of the individual (and not necessarily the injury) may ultimately yield improved outcomes. Furthermore, we will explore clinical and pre-clinical evidence demonstrating multiple system interactions in the context of obesity and TBI and discuss how expanding our understanding of the mechanistic interplay between multiple organ systems may ultimately provide a more personalized treatment approach for this mTBI patient subpopulation.

How completely are randomized controlled trials of non-pharmacological interventions following concussion reported? A systematic review

PURPOSE

The study aimed to examine the reporting completeness of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of non-pharmacological interventions following concussion.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and Web of Science up to May 2022. Two reviewers independently screened studies and assessed reporting completeness using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR), Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT), and international Consensus on Therapeutic Exercise aNd Training (i-CONTENT) checklists. Additional information was sought my study authors where reporting was incomplete. Risk of bias (ROB) was assessed with the Cochrane ROB-2 Tool. RCTs examining non-pharmacological interventions following concussion.

RESULTS

We included 89 RCTs (n = 53 high ROB) examining 11 different interventions for concussion: sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise, cervicovestibular therapy, physical/cognitive rest, vision therapy, education, psychotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, blue light therapy, osteopathic manipulation, and head/neck cooling. Median scores were: TIDieR 9/12 (75%; interquartile range (IQR) = 5; range: 5-12), CERT 17/19 (89%; IQR = 2; range: 10-19), and i-CONTENT 6/7 (86%; IQR = 1; range: 5-7). Percentage of studies completely reporting all items was TIDieR 35% (31/89), CERT 24% (5/21), and i-CONTENT 10% (2/21). Studies were more completely reported after publication of TIDieR (t87 = 2.08; p = 0.04) and CERT (t19 = 2.72; p = 0.01). Reporting completeness was not strongly associated with journal impact factor (TIDieR: rs = 0.27; p = 0.01; CERT: rs = -0.44; p = 0.06; i-CONTENT: rs = -0.17; p = 0.48) or ROB (TIDieR: rs = 0.11; p = 0.31; CERT: rs = 0.04; p = 0.86; i-CONTENT: rs = 0.12; p = 0.60).

CONCLUSION

RCTs of non-pharmacological interventions following concussion demonstrate moderate to good reporting completeness, but are often missing key components, particularly modifications, motivational strategies, and qualified supervisor. Reporting completeness improved after TIDieR and CERT publication, but publication in highly cited journals and low ROB do not guarantee reporting completeness.

Examining the Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Lifetime History of Head or Neck Injury and Concussion in Children From the United States

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to determine whether there is an association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and lifetime history of early childhood mild head or neck injury and concussion in a nationally representative US cohort.

SETTING AND DESIGN

This is a cross-sectional study using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study (data release 3.0), a prospective investigation of child brain development and health.

PARTICIPANTS

There were 11 878 children aged 9 or 10 years at baseline, recruited from 21 school-based sites in the United States. After excluding children with missing questionnaires for the primary exposure variable and children with severe brain injuries involving more than 30-minute loss of consciousness, the final sample size was 11 230 children.

MEASURES

The primary exposure variable was ACEs. We measured eight ACEs: sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional neglect, parent domestic violence, parent substance use disorder, parental mental illness, parent criminal involvement, and parent divorce. The primary outcomes were head or neck injury and concussion, measured using the Ohio State University Traumatic Brain Injury Screen-Identification Method Short Form.

RESULTS

The sample ( N = 11 230) was 52% boys with a mean age of 9.9 years (SD = 0.62 years). The racial and ethnic makeup was reflective of national demographics. Having a higher overall ACE count was associated with higher odds of head or neck injury, with greater odds with more ACEs reported. Children with 2 ACEs had 24% greater odds of head or neck injury (AOR = 1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06-1.45) and 64% greater odds of concussion (AOR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.18-2.22), and children with 4 or more ACEs had 70% greater odds of head or neck injury (AOR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.14, 2.49) and 140% greater odds of concussion (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.15-4.47). The individual ACE categories of sexual abuse, parent domestic violence, parental mental illness, and parent criminal involvement were significantly associated with increased risk of head or neck injury and parental mental illness with increased risk of concussion.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

ACEs are associated with early childhood mild head or neck injury and concussion and should be integrated in head injury prevention and intervention efforts.

Factors Associated with Symptom Resolution after Aerobic Exercise Intervention in Adolescent and Young Adults with Concussion

BACKGROUND

Aerobic exercise facilitates postconcussion symptom resolution at the group level, but patient-level characteristics may affect the likelihood of treatment efficacy.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate demographic and clinical characteristics, which differentiate postconcussion aerobic exercise treatment efficacy from nonefficacy in the intervention arm of a randomized clinical trial.

METHODS

Adolescent and young adult participants initiated a standardized aerobic exercise intervention within 14 d of concussion, consisting of self-selected exercise for 100 min·wk -1 at an individualized heart rate (80% of heart rate induced symptom exacerbation during graded exercise testing). Treatment efficacy was defined as symptom resolution within 28-d postconcussion. Treatment efficacy and nonefficacy groups were compared on demographics, clinical characteristics, intervention adherence, and persistent symptom risk using the Predicting Persistent Postconcussive Problems in Pediatrics (5P) clinical risk score.

RESULTS

A total of 27 participants (16.1 ± 2.3 yr old; range, 11-21 yr; 52% female) began the intervention, with a mean of 9.5 ± 3.7 d after concussion; half ( n = 13; 48%) demonstrated treatment efficacy (symptom resolution within 28 d postconcussion). Those whose symptoms resolved within 28 d had significantly lower preintervention postconcussion symptom inventory scores (21.2 ± 13.2 vs 41.4 ± 22.2; P < 0.01), greater adherence to the intervention (77% vs 36%; P = 0.05), and longer average exercise duration (median [interquartile range], 49.7 [36.8-68.6] vs 30.4 [20.7-34.7] min; P < 0.01) than those whose symptoms lasted more than 28 d. Groups were similar in age, sex, timing of intervention, and preintervention 5P risk score.

CONCLUSIONS

A standardized aerobic exercise intervention initiated within 14 d of concussion demonstrated efficacy for approximately half of participants, according to our definition of treatment efficacy. This multisite aerobic exercise intervention suggests that lower symptom severity, higher intervention adherence, and greater exercise duration are factors that increase the likelihood of symptoms resolving within 28 d of concussion.

Smartphone App-Delivered Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Adolescents: Protocol for a Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Concussion in children and adolescents is a significant public health concern, with 30% to 35% of patients at risk for prolonged emotional, cognitive, sleep, or physical symptoms. These symptoms negatively impact a child's quality of life while interfering with their participation in important neurodevelopmental activities such as schoolwork, socializing, and sports. Early psychological intervention following a concussion may improve the ability to regulate emotions and adapt to postinjury symptoms, resulting in the greater acceptance of change; reduced stress; and recovery of somatic, emotional, and cognitive symptoms.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this study is to assess the feasibility of conducting a parallel-group (1:1) randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate a digital therapeutics (DTx) mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) in adolescents aged 12 to <18 years. The attention-matched comparator intervention (a math game also used in previous RCTs) will be delivered on the same DTx platform. Both groups will be provided with the standard of care guidelines. The secondary objective is to examine intervention trends for quality of life; resilience; self-efficacy; cognition such as attention, working memory, and executive functioning; symptom burden; and anxiety and depression scores at 4 weeks after concussion, which will inform a more definitive RCT. A subsample will be used to examine whether those randomized to the experimental intervention group have different brain-based imaging patterns compared with those randomized to the control group.

METHODS

This study is a double-blind Health Canada-regulated trial. A total of 70 participants will be enrolled within 7 days of concussion and randomly assigned to receive the 4-week DTx MBI (experimental group) or comparator intervention. Feasibility will be assessed based on the recruitment rate, treatment adherence to both interventions, and retention. All outcome measures will be evaluated before the intervention (within 7 days after injury) and at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after the injury. A subset of 60 participants will undergo magnetic resonance imaging within 72 hours and at 4 weeks after recruitment to identify the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the potential benefits from MBI training in adolescents following a concussion.

RESULTS

The recruitment began in October 2022, and the data collection is expected to be completed by September 2024. Data collection and management is still in progress; therefore, data analysis is yet to be conducted.

CONCLUSIONS

This trial will confirm the feasibility and resolve uncertainties to inform a future definitive multicenter efficacy RCT. If proven effective, a smartphone-based MBI has the potential to be an accessible and low-risk preventive treatment for youth at risk of experiencing prolonged postconcussion symptoms and complications.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05105802; https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05105802.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/57226.

Do preinjury life events moderate the outcomes of mild traumatic brain injuries in children? An A-CAP Study

OBJECTIVE

To examine preinjury life events as moderators of postconcussive symptoms (PCS) and quality of life (QoL) in children with pediatric mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) versus orthopedic injury (OI).

METHODS

Participants were 633 children with mTBI and 334 with OI, ages 8-16.99, recruited from 5 pediatric emergency departments and followed for 6 months postinjury as part of a prospective cohort study. Preinjury life events were measured retrospectively using the Child and Adolescent Survey of Experiences, PCS using the Health and Behavior Inventory (HBI) and Post-Concussion Symptom Interview (PCS-I), and QoL using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Analyses involved longitudinal regression using restricted cubic splines, with group, positive and negative life events, and time as primary predictors. Covariates included age, sex, race, socioeconomic status, preinjury history (i.e., headache, migraine, previous concussion), and parent-rated retrospective PCS-I, HBI, and PedsQL scores.

RESULTS

PCS and QoL were worse after mTBI than OI, but group differences declined with time (all p < .001). Group differences in PCS were larger at higher levels of positive life events, which predicted lower PCS (p= .03 to p < .001) and higher QoL (p = .048) after OI but not after mTBI. Negative life events predicted worse PCS and QoL in both groups (p = .002 to p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Preinjury positive life events moderate outcomes after pediatric injury, with a protective effect seen in OI but not in mTBI. Negative life events are consistently associated with worse outcomes regardless of injury type.

Exploring the association between cognitive activity and symptom resolution following concussion in adolescents aged 11-17 years

OBJECTIVE

As opposed to postconcussion physical activity, the potential influence of cognitive activity on concussion recovery is not well characterised. This study evaluated the intensity and duration of daily cognitive activity reported by adolescents following concussion and examined the associations between these daily cognitive activities and postconcussion symptom duration.

METHODS

This study prospectively enrolled adolescents aged 11-17 years with a physician-confirmed concussion diagnosis within 72 hours of injury from the emergency department and affiliated concussion clinics. Participants were followed daily until symptom resolution or a maximum of 45 days postinjury to record their daily cognitive activity (intensity and duration) and postconcussion symptom scores.

RESULTS

Participants (n=83) sustained their concussion mostly during sports (84%), had a mean age of 14.2 years, and were primarily male (65%) and white (72%). Participants reported an average of 191 (SD=148), 166 (SD=151) and 38 (SD=61) minutes of low-intensity, moderate-intensity and high-intensity daily cognitive activity postconcussion while still being symptomatic. Every 10 standardised minutes per hour increase in moderate-intensity or high-intensity cognitive activities postconcussion was associated with a 22% greater rate of symptom resolution (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.22, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.47). Additionally, each extra day's delay in returning to school postconcussion was associated with an 8% lower rate of symptom resolution (aHR 0.92, 95% CI 0.85 to 0.99).

CONCLUSION

In adolescents with concussion, more moderate-high intensity cognitive activity is associated with faster symptom resolution, and a delayed return to school is associated with slower symptom resolution. However, these relationships may be bidirectional and do not necessarily imply causality. Randomised controlled trials are needed to determine if exposure to early cognitive activity can promote concussion recovery in adolescents.

Longitudinal Brain Perfusion and Symptom Presentation Following Pediatric Concussion: A Pediatric Concussion Assessment of Rest and Exertion+MRI (PedCARE+MRI) Substudy

Emerging evidence suggests that advanced neuroimaging modalities such as arterial spin labelling (ASL) might have prognostic utility for pediatric concussion. This study aimed to: 1) examine group differences in global and regional brain perfusion in youth with concussion or orthopedic injury (OI) at 72 h and 4 weeks post-injury; 2) examine patterns of abnormal brain perfusion within both groups and their recovery; 3) investigate the association between perfusion and symptom burden within concussed and OI youths at both time-points; and 4) explore perfusion between symptomatic and asymptomatic concussed and OI youths. Youths ages 10.00-17.99 years presenting to the emergency department with an acute concussion or OI were enrolled. ASL-magnetic resonance imaging scans were conducted at 72 h and 4 weeks post-injury to measure brain perfusion, along with completion of the Health Behavior Inventory (HBI) to measure symptoms. Abnormal perfusion clusters were identified using voxel-based z-score analysis at each visit. First, mixed analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) investigated the Group*Time interaction on global and regional perfusion. Post hoc region of interest (ROI) analyses were performed on significant regions. Second, within-group generalized estimating equations investigated the recovery of abnormal perfusion at an individual level. Third, multiple regressions at each time-point examined the association between HBI and regional perfusion, and between HBI and abnormal perfusion volumes within the concussion group. Fourth, whole-brain one-way ANCOVAs explored differences in regional and abnormal perfusion based on symptomatic status (symptomatic vs. asymptomatic) and OIs at each time-point. A total of 70 youths with a concussion [median age (interquartile range; IQR) = 12.70 (11.67-14.35), 47.1% female] and 29 with an OI [median age (IQR) = 12.05 (11.18-13.89), 41.4% female] were included. Although no Group effect was found in global perfusion, the concussion group showed greater adjusted perfusion within the anterior cingulate cortex/middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and right MFG compared with the OI group across time-points (ps ≤ 0.004). The concussion group showed lower perfusion within the right superior temporal gyrus at both time-points and bilateral occipital gyrus at 4 weeks, (ps ≤ 0.006). The number of hypoperfused clusters was increased at 72 h compared with 4 weeks in the concussion youths (p < 0.001), but not in the OIs. Moreover, Group moderated the HBI-perfusion association within the left precuneus and superior frontal gyrus at both time-points, (ps ≤ 0.001). No association was found between HBI and abnormal perfusion volume within the concussion group at any visits. At 4 weeks, the symptomatic sub-group (n = 10) showed lower adjusted perfusion within the right cerebellum and lingual gyrus, while the asymptomatic sub-group (n = 59) showed lower adjusted perfusion within the left calcarine, but greater perfusion within the left medial orbitofrontal cortex, right middle frontal gyrus, and bilateral caudate compared with OIs. Yet, no group differences were observed in the number of abnormal perfusion clusters or volumes at any visit. The present study suggests that symptoms may be associated with changes in regional perfusion, but not abnormal perfusion levels.

Optimal Volume of Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity Postconcussion in Children and Adolescents

Importance

Determining the optimal volume of early moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) after concussion and its association with subsequent symptom burden is important for early postinjury management recommendations.

Objectives

To investigate the association between cumulative MVPA (cMVPA) over 2 weeks and subsequent symptom burden at 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks postinjury in children and examine the association between cMVPA and odds of persisting symptoms after concussion (PSAC) at 2 weeks and 4 weeks postinjury.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This multicenter cohort study used data from a randomized clinical trial that was conducted from March 2017 to December 2019 at 3 Canadian pediatric emergency departments in participants aged 10.00 to 17.99 years with acute concussion of less than 48 hours. Data were analyzed from July 2022 to December 2023.

Exposure

cMVPA postinjury was measured with accelerometers worn on the waist for 24 hours per day for 13 days postinjury, with measurements deemed valid if participants had 4 or more days of accelerometer data and 3 or fewer consecutive days of missing data. cMVPA at 1 week and 2 weeks postinjury was defined as cMVPA for 7 days and 13 days postinjury, respectively. Multiple imputations were carried out on missing MVPA days.

Main Outcomes and measures

Self-reported postconcussion symptom burden at 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks postinjury using the Health and Behavior Inventory (HBI). PSAC was defined as reliable change on the HBI. A linear mixed-effect model was used for symptom burden at 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks postinjury with a time × cMVPA interaction. Logistic regressions assessed the association between cMVPA and PSAC. All models were adjusted for prognostically important variables.

Results

In this study, 267 of 456 children (119 [44.6%] female; median [IQR] age, 12.9 [11.5 to 14.4] years) were included in the analysis. Participants with greater cMVPA had significantly lower HBI scores at 1 week (75th percentile [258.5 minutes] vs 25th percentile [90.0 minutes]; difference, -5.45 [95% CI, -7.67 to -3.24]) and 2 weeks postinjury (75th percentile [565.0 minutes] vs 25th percentile [237.0 minutes]; difference, -2.85 [95% CI, -4.74 to -0.97]) but not at 4 weeks postinjury (75th percentile [565.0 minutes] vs 25th percentile [237.0 minutes]; difference, -1.24 [95% CI, -3.13 to 0.64]) (P = .20). Symptom burden was not lower beyond the 75th percentile for cMVPA at 1 week or 2 weeks postinjury (1 week, 259 minutes; 2 weeks, 565 minutes) of cMVPA. The odds ratio for the association between 75th and 25th percentile of cMVPA and PSAC was 0.48 (95% CI, 0.24 to 0.94) at 2 weeks.

Conclusions and Relevance

In children and adolescents with acute concussion, 259 minutes of cMVPA during the first week postinjury and 565 minutes of cMVPA during the second week postinjury were associated with lower symptom burden at 1 week and 2 weeks postinjury. At 2 weeks postinjury, higher cMVPA volume was associated with 48% reduced odds of PSAC compared with lower cMVPA volume.

Changes in Physician Recommendations for Early Physical Activity After Pediatric Concussion: A Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to analyze changes in physical activity (PA) recommendations after pediatric concussions and examine the associations of patient and injury characteristics with physicians' PA recommendations.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

SETTING

Concussion clinics associated with a pediatric hospital.

PATIENTS

Patients aged 10 to 18 years with a concussion diagnosis, presenting to the concussion clinic within 14 days of the injury were included. A total of 4727 pediatric concussions and corresponding 4727 discharge instructions were analyzed.

INDEPENDENT VARIABLES

The independent variables for our study were time, injury characteristics (eg, mechanism and symptom scores), and patient characteristics (eg, demographics and comorbidities).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Physician PA recommendations.

RESULTS

From 2012 to 2019, the proportion of physicians recommending light activity at an initial visit increased from 11.1% to 52.6% ( P < 0.05) within 1-week postinjury and from 16.9% to 64.0% during the second week postinjury ( P < 0.05). A significantly increased odds of recommending "light activity" (odds ratio [OR] = 1.82, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-2.40) and "noncontact PA" (OR = 2.21, 95% CI, 1.28-2.05), compared with "no activity" within 1-week postinjury, was observed in each consecutive year. In addition, higher symptom scores at the initial visit were associated with lower likelihood of recommending "light activity" or "noncontact PA."

CONCLUSIONS

Physician recommendation of early, symptom-limited PA after a pediatric concussion has increased since 2012, which mirrors a shift in acute concussion management. Further research assessing how these PA recommendations may facilitate pediatric concussion recovery is warranted.

Change in health-related quality of life and functional disability over time post-concussion in youth

PURPOSE

Concussions can have detrimental on children's cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and/or social functioning. We sought to examine changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and functional disability from pre-injury to 1-week post-concussion, and to symptom resolution among youth ages 11-17 with a concussion.

METHODS

In this prospective, longitudinal cohort study, 83 concussed youth, ages 11-17, self-reported post-concussion symptoms daily as well as HRQOL and functional disability at baseline (pre-injury, retrospective), 1-week post-concussion, and symptom resolution. We modeled changes in overall and sub-scale HRQOL and functional disability scores over time from pre-injury to 1-week post-concussion and from 1-week post-concussion to symptom resolution using a piecewise linear mixed model, adjusting for potential covariables. Estimated fixed effects with a corresponding adjusted coefficient (beta), along with their 95% confidence intervals are presented.

RESULTS

Overall HRQOL worsened from pre-injury to 1-week post-injury (β = - 5.40, 95%CI - 9.22, - 1.58) but did not change from 1-week post-injury to symptom resolution. Physical HRQOL worsened from pre-injury to 1-week post-injury (β = - 9.90, 95%CI - 14.65, - 5.14) but improved from 1-week post-injury to symptom resolution (β = 1.64, 95%CI 0.50, 2.78), while psychosocial HRQOL showed no change over time. Functional disability worsened from pre-injury to 1-week post-injury (β = 8.36, 95%CI 5.93, 10.79) but with no change from 1-week post-injury to symptom resolution. Youth with symptom duration > 14 days reported worse HRQOL and functional disability than those who recovered in ≤ 14 days and greater daily post-concussion symptom scores were associated with worse HRQOL and functional disability.

CONCLUSION

Concussions have a negative impact on overall and physical HRQOL and functional disability in youth acutely post-injury. Ratings of HRQOL could be used to inform clinical treatment decisions to assist with the recovery process.

The Effects of Rest on Concussion Symptom Resolution and Recovery Time: A Meta-analytic Review and Subgroup Analysis of 4329 Patients

BACKGROUND

Numerous individual studies suggest that rest may have a negative effect on outcomes following concussion.

PURPOSE

To perform a systematic meta-analysis of the effects of prescribed rest compared with active interventions after concussion.

STUDY DESIGN

Meta-analysis; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

A meta-analysis (using the Hedges g) of randomized controlled trials and cohort studies was conducted to evaluate the effects of prescribed rest on symptoms and recovery time after concussion. Subgroup analyses were performed for methodological, study, and sample characteristics. Data sources were obtained from systematic search of key terms using Ovid Medline, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, APA PsycINFO, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and ProQuest dissertations and theses through May 28, 2021. Eligible studies were those that (1) assessed concussion or mild traumatic brain injury; (2) included symptoms or days to recovery for ≥2 time points; (3) included 2 groups with 1 group assigned to rest; and (4) were written in the English language.

RESULTS

In total, 19 studies involving 4239 participants met criteria. Prescribed rest had a significant negative effect on symptoms (k = 15; g = -0.27; SE = 0.11; 95% CI, -0.48 to -0.05; P = .04) but not on recovery time (k = 8; g = -0.16; SE = 0.21; 95% CI, -0.57 to 0.26; P = .03). Subgroup analyses suggested that studies with shorter duration (<28 days) (g = -0.46; k = 5), studies involving youth (g = -0.33; k = 12), and studies focused on sport-related concussion (g = -0.38; k = 8) reported higher effect sizes.

CONCLUSION

The findings support a small negative effect for prescribed rest on symptoms after concussion. Younger age and sport-related mechanisms of injury were associated with a greater negative effect size. However, the lack of support for an effect for recovery time and the relatively small overall numbers of eligible studies highlight ongoing concerns regarding the quantity and rigor of clinical trials in concussion.

REGISTRATION

CRD42021253060 (PROSPERO).

Early Exercise is Associated with Faster Concussion Recovery Among Collegiate Athletes: Findings from the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium

BACKGROUND

Growing evidence indicates early exercise may improve symptoms and reduce clinical recovery time after concussion, but research examining collegiate student-athletes is scarce.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare symptom recovery time, clinical recovery time, and persisting post-concussion symptom (i.e., symptoms ≥ 28 days) prevalence by the timing of light exercise initiation before the graded return to play (RTP) protocol among concussed participants.

METHODS

Collegiate student-athletes (n = 1228; age 18.4 ± 0.9 years; 56.5% male, 76.3% division I; 33.7% ≥ 1 prior concussion) across 30 institutions enrolled in the CARE Consortium completed post-concussion assessments and were monitored over time. Symptom recovery (days from injury to symptom resolution) and clinical recovery (days from injury to return to play protocol completion) was determined by the student-athletes' clinicians. Student-athletes were categorized by timing of light exercise initiation. Early (< 2 days post-concussion; n = 161), typical (3-7 days post-concussion; n = 281), and late exercise (≥ 8 days post-concussion; n = 169) groups were compared with the no-exercise group (n = 617; i.e., did not exercise prior to beginning the RTP protocol) for all analyses. Multivariable Cox regression models with hazard ratios (HR) and survival curves and a multivariable binomial regression model with prevalence ratios (PR) compared recovery outcomes between exercise groups while accounting for covariates.

RESULTS

Compared to the no-exercise group, the early exercise group was 92% more probable to experience symptom recovery (HR 1.92; 95% CI 1.57-2.36), 88% more probable to reach clinical recovery (HR 1.88; 95% CI 1.55-2.28) and took a median of 2.4 and 3.2 days less to recover, respectively. The late exercise group relative to the no-exercise group was 57% less probable to reach symptom recovery (HR 0.43; 95% CI 0.35-0.53), 46% less probable to achieve clinical recovery (HR 0.54; 95% CI 0.45-0.66) and took 5.3 days and 5.7 days more to recover, respectively. The typical exercise group did not differ in hazard for symptom or clinical recovery (p ≥ 0.329) compared with the no-exercise group. The prevalence of persisting post-concussion symptoms in the combined sample was 6.6%. Early exercise had 4% lower prevalence (PR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.99) and typical exercise had 3% lower prevalence (PR 0.97, 95% CI 0.94-0.99) of persisting post-concussion symptoms, while the late exercise group had an elevated prevalence (PR 1.11, 95% CI 1.04-1.18) compared with the no-exercise group.

CONCLUSION

Exercise < 2 days post-concussion was associated with more probable and faster symptom and clinical recovery, and lower persisting post-concussion symptom prevalence. When considering our findings and existing literature, qualified clinicians may implement early exercise into their clinical practice to provide therapeutic treatment and improve student-athlete recovery.

Precision Concussion Management: Approaches to Quantifying Head Injury Severity and Recovery

Mitigating the substantial public health impact of concussion is a particularly difficult challenge. This is partly because concussion is a highly prevalent condition, and diagnosis is predominantly symptom-based. Much of contemporary concussion management relies on symptom interpretation and accurate reporting by patients. These types of reports may be influenced by a variety of factors for each individual, such as preexisting mental health conditions, headache disorders, and sleep conditions, among other factors. This can all be contributory to non-specific and potentially misleading clinical manifestations in the aftermath of a concussion. This review aimed to conduct an examination of the existing literature on emerging approaches for objectively evaluating potential concussion, as well as to highlight current gaps in understanding where further research is necessary. Objective assessments of visual and ocular motor concussion symptoms, specialized imaging techniques, and tissue-based concentrations of specific biomarkers have all shown promise for specifically characterizing diffuse brain injuries, and will be important to the future of concussion diagnosis and management. The consolidation of these approaches into a comprehensive examination progression will be the next horizon for increased precision in concussion diagnosis and treatment.

Associations between psychological resilience and metrics of white matter microstructure in pediatric concussion

This study investigated associations between psychological resilience and characteristics of white matter microstructure in pediatric concussion. This is a case control study and a planned substudy of a larger randomized controlled trial. Children with an acute concussion or orthopedic injury were recruited from the emergency department. Participants completed both the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 10 and an MRI at 72 h and 4-weeks post-injury. The association between resiliency and fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) at both timepoints were examined. We examined whether these associations were moderated by group. The association between resiliency captured at 72 h and diffusion tensor imaging metrics at 4 weeks was also investigated. Clusters were extracted using a significance threshold of threshold-free cluster enhancement corrected p < .05. A total of 66 children with concussion (median (IQR) age = 12.88 (IQR: 11.80-14.36); 47% female) and 29 children with orthopedic-injury (median (IQR) age = 12.49 (IQR: 11.18-14.01); 41% female) were included. A negative correlation was identified in the concussion group between 72 h resilience and 72 h FA. Meanwhile, positive correlations were identified in the concussion group with concussion between 72 h resilience and both 72 h MD and 72 h RD. These findings suggest that 72 h resilience is associated with white matter microstructure of the forceps minor, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and anterior thalamic radiation at 72 h post-concussion. Resilience seems to be associated with neural integrity only in the acute phase of concussion and thus may be considered when researching concussion recovery.

Post-Traumatic Headache in Children after Minor Head Trauma: Incidence, Phenotypes, and Risk Factors

Minor head trauma (MHT) is very frequent in children and post-traumatic headache (PTH) is one of its most common complications; however, its management is still a challenge. We aimed to assess the incidence and clinical characteristics of, and risk factors for, PTH among children referred to our pediatric emergency department (PED) for MHT. A total of 193 patients aged 3–14 years evaluated for MTH were enrolled and followed up for 6 months through phone calls and/or visits. PTH occurred in 25/193 patients (13%). PTH prevalence was significantly higher in school-aged (≥6 years) than in pre-school-aged children (21.6% vs. 4.9%, respectively, p < 0.009). Females were found to be more affected. The median time of onset was 4.6 days after MHT; resolution occurred in a median of 7 weeks. In 83.3% of patients, PTH subsided in <3 months, while in 16.7% it persisted longer. A total of 25% of children exhibited the migraine and 75% the tension-type variant. Our analysis indicates the presence of headache upon arrival in PED, isolated or associated with nausea and dizziness, as a factor predisposing the patient to the development of PTH. Our findings could be useful to identify children at risk for PTH for specific follow-up, family counseling, and treatment.

Association Between Early Return to School Following Acute Concussion and Symptom Burden at 2 Weeks Postinjury

Importance

Determining how the timing of return to school is related to later symptom burden is important for early postinjury management recommendations.

Objective

To examine the typical time to return to school after a concussion and evaluate whether an earlier return to school is associated with symptom burden 14 days postinjury.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Planned secondary analysis of a prospective, multicenter observational cohort study from August 2013 to September 2014. Participants aged 5 to 18 years with an acute (<48 hours) concussion were recruited from 9 Canadian pediatric emergency departments in the Pediatric Emergency Research Canada Network.

Exposure

The independent variable was the number of days of school missed. Missing fewer than 3 days after concussion was defined as an early return to school.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was symptom burden at 14 days, measured with the Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory (PCSI). Symptom burden was defined as symptoms status at 14 days minus preinjury symptoms. Propensity score analyses applying inverse probability of treatment weighting were performed to estimate the relationship between the timing of return to school and symptom burden.

Results

This cohort study examined data for 1630 children (mean age [SD] 11.8 [3.4]; 624 [38%] female). Of these children, 875 (53.7%) were classified as having an early return to school. The mean (SD) number of days missed increased across age groups (5-7 years, 2.61 [5.2]; 8-12 years, 3.26 [4.9]; 13-18 years, 4.71 [6.1]). An early return to school was associated with a lower symptom burden 14 days postinjury in the 8 to 12-year and 13 to 18-year age groups, but not in the 5 to 7-year age group. The association between early return and lower symptom burden was stronger in individuals with a higher symptom burden at the time of injury, except those aged 5 to 7 years.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of youth aged 5 to 18 years, these results supported the growing belief that prolonged absences from school and other life activities after a concussion may be detrimental to recovery. An early return to school may be associated with a lower symptom burden and, ultimately, faster recovery.

Implementation of active injury management (AIM) in youth with acute concussion: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Nearly 2 million youth seek acute medical care following concussion in the U.S. each year. Current standard of care recommends rest for the first 48 h after a concussion. However, research suggests that prolonged rest may lengthen recovery time especially for patients with certain risk profiles. Research indicates that physical activity and behavioral management interventions (sleep, stress management) may enhance recovery. To date, there is limited empirical evidence to inform acute (<72 h) concussion recommendations for physical activity and behavioral management in adolescents.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effectiveness of physical activity and behavioral management for acute concussion in adolescents and young adults, and to evaluate the role of patient characteristics on treatment response.

METHODS

This multicenter prospective randomized controlled trial will determine which combination of physical activity and behavioral management is most effective for patients 11-24 years old who present to the emergency department or concussion clinic within 72 h of injury. Participants are randomized into: 1) rest, 2) physical activity, 3) mobile health application (mHealth) behavioral management, or 4) physical activity and mHealth app conditions. Assessments at enrollment, 3-5 days, 14 days, 1 month, and 2 months include: concussion symptoms, balance, vestibular-ocular and cognitive assessments, quality of life, and recovery time. Somatic symptoms and other risk factors are evaluated at enrollment. Compliance with treatment and symptoms are assessed daily using actigraph and daily self-report. The primary study outcome is symptoms at 14 days.

CONCLUSION

Prescribed physical activity and behavioral management may improve outcomes in youth following acute concussion.

Adolescents with a concussion have altered brain network functional connectivity one month following injury when compared to adolescents with orthopedic injuries

Concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) with increasing prevalence among children and adolescents. Functional connectivity (FC) within and between the default mode network (DMN), central executive network (CEN) and salience network (SN) has been shown to be altered post-concussion. Few studies have investigated connectivity within and between these 3 networks following a pediatric concussion. The present study explored whether within and between-network FC differs between a pediatric concussion and orthopedic injury (OI) group aged 10-18. Participants underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scan at 4 weeks post-injury. One-way ANCOVA analyses were conducted between groups with the seed-based FC of the 3 networks. A total of 55 concussion and 27 OI participants were included in the analyses. Increased within-network FC of the CEN and decreased between-network FC of the DMN-CEN was found in the concussion group when compared to the OI group. Secondary analyses using spherical SN regions of interest revealed increased within-network FC of the SN and increased between-network FC of the DMN-SN and CEN-SN in the concussion group when compared to the OI group. This study identified differential connectivity patterns following a pediatric concussion as compared to an OI 4 weeks post-injury. These differences indicate potential adaptive brain mechanisms that may provide insight into recovery trajectories and appropriate timing of treatment within the first month following a concussion.

The acute, systemic effects of aerobic exercise in recently concussed adolescent student-athletes: preliminary findings

OBJECTIVES

Examine the acute effects (pre-, during, post-intervention) of two different intensities of aerobic exercise or rest on autonomic, oculomotor, and vestibular function and symptom burden in patients with a recent sport-related concussion (SRC) and compare their responses to sex-matched, age-stratified, non-concussed (HEALTHY) student-athletes.

METHODS

Student-athletes between the ages of 13 and 18 that presented to the sports medicine clinic within Day 3-7 post-SRC and from local schools were recruited for a randomized controlled trial (RCT). The participants were administered the Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS), King-Devick (K-D), and Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) before and after the intervention. Heart rate variability (HRV) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were collected before, during, and after the intervention. The intervention was either a single, 20-min session of treadmill walking at 40% (40HR) or 60% of age-predicted max heart rate (60HR), or seated, rest (NOEX).

RESULTS

30 participants completed the intervention with the SRC group treated 4.5 ± 1.3 days post-injury. Pre-exercise HRV and MAP were significantly different (p's < 0.001) during treatment but returned to pre-exercise values within 5 min of recovery in both the SRC and HEALTHY groups. Both the SRC and HEALTHY groups exhibited similar reductions pre- to post-intervention for symptom severity and count (p's < 0.05), three VOMS items (p's < 0.05) but not K-D time.

CONCLUSIONS

To date, this is the first adolescent RCT to report the acute, systemic effects of aerobic exercise on recently concussed adolescent athletes. The interventions appeared safe in SRC participants, were well-tolerated, and provided brief therapeutic benefit.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier NCT03575455.