UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Concussion outcome predictors

Category: Orthopedics

Keywords: Concussion recovery (PubMed Search)

Posted: 8/26/2017 by Brian Corwell, MD (Updated: 12/26/2024)
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There is tremendous interest in identifying factors that may influence outcome from sports related concussion.

The strongest predictor of slower recovery is the severity of symptoms in the 1-2 days post injury

-Fewer Sx's in this time period predict a quicker recovery

Pre injury history of mental health problems, depression or migraine headaches predict a longer recovery course

Teenagers might be more vulnerable to having persistent symptoms with greater risk for girls than boys

Having a prior concussion is a risk for having a future concussion

The large majority of injured athletes recover from a clinical perspective within the first month of injury many within the first 10 days

McCrory P et al. Br J Sports Med 2017;51:838-847.