UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Pediatric Concussion 2

Category: Orthopedics

Keywords: head injury, sports medicine (PubMed Search)

Posted: 11/10/2018 by Brian Corwell, MD (Updated: 12/26/2024)
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In which age groups should children with Sport Related Concussion be managed differently from adults?

  • Not adequately addressed in literature.
  • Consider 5-12 years old vs 13 and over for child vs. adult testing

 

Are there targeted subgroups who would benefit from closer outpatient and specialty follow-up?

 

Predictors of Prolonged Recovery in Children
 

  • Female sex
  • physician diagnosis of migraine
  • Prior concussion with symptoms lasting longer than 1 weeks
  • Multiple concussions
  • ADHD/LD/Mood disorders
  • Acute headache
  • Age 13 or older
    • Teenage and high school years represents the greatest age period for prolonged recovery
  • Prior
  • Dizziness
  • Sensitivity to noise
  • Fatigue
  • Answering questions slowly
  • 4 or more errors on BESS testing

 

 

References

Davis et al., 2017. What is the difference in concussion management in children as compared with adults? A systematic review.

Zemek et al., 2016. Clinical Risk Score for Persistent Postconcussion Symptoms Among Children With Acute Concussion in the ED.