Concussion, a form of mild traumatic brain injury, is a biomechanical blow or force to the head that results in a range of clinical signs and symptoms. It accounts for up to 90% of all paediatric emergency department presentations for head injury. Concussion results in a constellation of post-concussion symptoms (PCS), such as balance impairment, somatic and/or emotional symptoms, cognitive impairment, fatigue and sleep disturbance. For most children and youth. PCS can be non-specific and generally resolve spontaneously within 2 to 4 weeks post-injury. However, approximately 30% of concussions result in persisting symptoms, lasting more than 4 weeks.
These persisting symptoms can vary significantly, both across person and time, and interfere with school participation, academic achievement, sports participation, social relationships, mental health and quality of life. The aim of this symposium is to present recently updated, evidence-informed guidelines and practical clinical approaches to concussion management and treatment from the point of injury to symptom resolution. Failure to accurately diagnose, prognose and treat PCS can thus have long-lasting effects on a child’s quality of life. Despite the recent availability of numerous clinical guidelines, there is a high level of variation in care at and following hospital discharge, which may lead to suboptimal recovery.
This symposium will provide a comprehensive update on current, evidence- informed clinical practice to accelerate and optimise outcomes from child concussion. We will 1) detail recently published, evidence-based clinical management guidelines (Concussion in Sports Group and American College of Rehabilitation Medicine, 2023) and new introduce sidelines and office assessment tools; 2) illustrate approaches to disseminate these guidelines and educate the community using novel digital technology; 3) describe multimodal approaches to assessing and treating post-concussive symptoms.
Keith Yeates, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada Vicki Anderson, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia Gavin Davis, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
