Sports-related brain injury research: methodological difficulties associated with ambiguous terminology

Developing services for head injury: obtaining the data

The aim of this article is to propose standards for data collection in head injury, the commonest cause of death and disability in young people. The objectives include evaluation of an audit methodology. The retrospective review conducted for the Eastern Head Injury Study in the UK identified a variety of problems, notably ambiguous terminology, inadequacies in ICD-10 codes, and inconsistent practices in recording data on head injury. Conclusions are that the standards developed through the review should improve data collection practice, and rehabilitation codes should assist in tracking patient pathways through care.

Playing soccer increases serum concentrations of the biochemical markers of brain damage S-100B and neuron-specific enolase in elite players: a pilot study

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

To analyse serum concentrations of two biochemical markers of brain tissue damage, S-100B and NSE (neurone-specific enolase), in male soccer players in connection to the game.

METHODS

Blood samples were taken in players before and after a competitive game and the numbers of headers and of trauma events during soccer play were assessed.

RESULTS

Both S-100B and NSE were significantly raised in serum samples obtained after the game in comparison with the pre-game values (S-100B: 0.118 +/- 0.040 microg L(-1) vs 0.066 +/- 0.025 microg L(-1), p < 0.001; NSE: 10.29 +/- 2.16 microg L(-1) vs 8.57 +/- 2.31 microg L(-1), p < 0.001). Only changes in S-100B concentrations (post-game minus pre-game values) were statistically significantly correlated to the number of headers (r = 0.428, p = 0.02) and to the number of other trauma events (r = 0.453, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Playing competitive elite soccer was found to cause increase in serum concentrations of S-100B and NSE. Increases in S-100B were significantly correlated to the number of headers, and heading may accordingly have contributed to these increases.

Neuropsychological dysfunction following repeat concussions in jockeys

BACKGROUND

Single and repeat concussions have a high prevalence in sport. However, there is limited research into longterm risks associated with single and repeat concussions.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effects of single and repeat historical concussions on the neuropsychological functioning and neurological reports of licensed jockeys.

METHODS

Six hundred and ninety eight licensed jockeys in the UK were assessed for neurological and neuropsychological symptoms of concussion at least three months after potential episodes.

RESULTS

Jockeys reporting multiple historical injuries versus a single injury showed reliable decrements on a measure of response inhibition and, to a less robust degree, on divided attention. Younger adults showed greater vulnerability.

CONCLUSIONS

Repeated concussion is associated with reliable decrements in cognitive performance--even after a three month window for recent recovery.