Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and the Post-concussive Syndrome
Description
- confusion
- amnesia around the time of injury
- loss of consciousness for up to 30 minutes following the injury
- neurological or neuropsychological problems including problems with attention, concentration, memory, fatigue, dizziness, and others
- with a Glasgow Coma Scale of 13 or higher
Although the majority of children with mild TBI recover quickly, some go on to have problems for weeks or months. The constellation of chronic symptoms is often referred to as post-concussive syndrome, and also as part of the spectrum of mild TBI. There are no controlled studies detailing how often children who have sustained a concussion have these problems, but estimates in adults after concussions range from 40 to 80%. [Mittenberg: 2001] The symptoms of mild TBI vary from child to child, and symptoms may be mild or severe enough to interfere with daily living and quality of life. Children with mild TBI may experience:
- chronic headaches
- sleep problems
- problems with attention and concentration
- memory problems
- behavior problems, including anger, immature behavior, acting out
- moodiness, anxiety, and symptoms of depression
- fatigue and dizziness
Prognosis
Management
Resources
Information & Support
For Professionals
CDC Pediatric mTBI Guideline
19 sets of clinical recommendations that cover diagnosis, prognosis, and management and treatment of mild traumatic brain
injury. Supported by the AAP, these recommendations are for healthcare providers working in: inpatient, emergency, primary,
and outpatient care settings; from the CDC
Practice Guidelines
Kamerling SN, Lutz N, Posner JC, Vanore M.
Mild traumatic brain injury in children: practice guidelines for emergency department and hospitalized patients. The Trauma
Program, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
Pediatr Emerg Care.
2003;19(6):431-40.
PubMed abstract
Page Bibliography
Anderson V, Brown S, Newitt H, Hoile H.
Long-term outcome from childhood traumatic brain injury: Intellectual ability, personality, and quality of life.
Neuropsychology.
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PubMed abstract
Kamerling SN, Lutz N, Posner JC, Vanore M.
Mild traumatic brain injury in children: practice guidelines for emergency department and hospitalized patients. The Trauma
Program, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
Pediatr Emerg Care.
2003;19(6):431-40.
PubMed abstract
Kirkwood MW, Yeates KO, Wilson PE.
Pediatric sport-related concussion: a review of the clinical management of an oft-neglected population.
Pediatrics.
2006;117(4):1359-71.
PubMed abstract
Lee LK.
Controversies in the sequelae of pediatric mild traumatic brain injury.
Pediatr Emerg Care.
2007;23(8):580-3; quiz 584-6.
PubMed abstract
Lovell MR, Fazio V.
Concussion management in the child and adolescent athlete.
Curr Sports Med Rep.
2008;7(1):12-5.
PubMed abstract
Mittenberg W, Canyock EM, Condit D, Patton C.
Treatment of post-concussion syndrome following mild head injury.
J Clin Exp Neuropsychol.
2001;23(6):829-36.
PubMed abstract
Yeates KO, Taylor HG, Rusin J, Bangert B, Dietrich A, Nuss K, Wright M, Nagin DS, Jones BL.
Longitudinal trajectories of postconcussive symptoms in children with mild traumatic brain injuries and their relationship
to acute clinical status.
Pediatrics.
2009;123(3):735-43.
PubMed abstract / Full Text