Sources: Mayo Clinic, Washington Post, Kaiser Permanente, Science Daily, kidshealth.org, and Denver Post
More severe concussion symptoms take longer to recover from their head injury than patients with milder symptoms. The study finds that most children recover from sports-related concussions within a few days, but some continue to have symptoms for months after the injury has occurred. The reasons for this have been undetermined. Authors of this study to identify have looked into risk factors that might be associated with longer recovery times.
One Hundred and Eighty Two children, who were analyzed, were seen at a Sports Concussion Clinic within three weeks of their injury. The patients completed the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS), which uses a 0-6 scale to assess the severity of Twenty Two symptoms; the higher the number, the more severe the symptoms. The researchers found that the total score on the PCSS was independently associated with the length of time that patients had concussion symptoms. The higher the score, the more likely the youth would have symptoms for longer than 28 days, according to the study published in April’s The Journal of Pediatrics. Identifying risk factors for prolonged recovery from concussion will enable providers to provide the best treatment for patients, said the researchers.
A list of symptoms included on the PCSS questionnaire included:
1. Headache
2. Vomiting
3. Problems with keeping balance
4. Sleeping more or less than usual
5. Sensitivity to light or noise
6. Fatigue
7. Numbness
8. Memory or concentration issues
9. Visual Acuity
Dr. William P. Meehan, III and colleagues from Boston Children’s Hospital and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center analyzed data.
"Parents, physicians and caregivers of athletes who suffer from a high-degree of symptoms after a sports-related concussion should start preparing for the possibility of a prolonged recovery," study author Dr. William Meehan said in a journal news release. ©The Journal of Pediatrics April 2013
In the previous studies, it was found that younger patients and those with memory loss had longer recovery times after suffering a concussion; results from this study do not suggest that age or amnesia are risk factors for prolonged recovery time. What were determined athletes will suffer prolonged recoveries after concussion; therefore, the analytical tools to deliver results, should be based on initial symptom scores. The researchers made this public out in a news release.
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Also, Check out the methods for which this study was conducted.
Cumulative Effects of Concussions
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