Chronic Health Conditions

OBJECTIVES: To determine if recommending strict rest improved concussion recovery and outcome after discharge from the pediatric emergency department (ED). METHODS: Patients aged 11 to 22 years presenting to a pediatric ED within 24 hours of concussion were recruited. Participants underwent neurocognitive, balance, and symptom assessment in the ED and were randomized to strict rest for 5 days versus usual care (1–2 days rest, followed by stepwise return to activity). Patients completed a diary used to record physical and mental activity level, calculate energy exertion, and record daily postconcussive symptoms. Neurocognitive and balance assessments were performed at 3 and 10 days postinjury. Sample size calculations were powered to detect clinically meaningful differences in postconcussive symptom, neurocognitive, and balance scores between treatment groups. Linear mixed modeling was used to detect contributions of group assignment to individual recovery trajectory. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients were enrolled; 88 completed all study procedures (45 intervention, 43 control). Postdischarge, both groups reported a 20% decrease in energy exertion and physical activity levels. As expected, the intervention group reported less school and after-school attendance for days 2 to 5 postconcussion (3.8 vs 6.7 hours total, P , .05). There was no clinically significant difference in neurocognitive or balance outcomes. However, the intervention group reported more daily postconcussive symptoms (total symptom score over 10 days, 187.9 vs 131.9, P , .03) and slower symptom resolution. CONCLUSIONS: Recommending strict rest for adolescents immediately after concussion offered no added benefit over the usual care. Adolescents’ symptom reporting was influenced by recommending strict rest. WHAT’S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT: Expert consensus recommends rest after concussion with stepwise return to activity. Animal and retrospective human data suggest that early mental and physical activity may worsen outcome. There are no pediatric studies testing the efficacy of recommending strict rest after concussion. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: Recommending strict rest postinjury did not improve outcome and may have contributed to increased symptom reporting. Usual care (rest for 1–2 days with stepwise return to activity) is currently the best discharge strategy for pediatric mild traumatic brain injury/concussion. Departments of Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, and Neurology and Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dr Thomas developed the study concept and design, obtained funding, supervised the study, acquired data, analyzed and interpreted data, and drafted and revised the manuscript; Dr Apps assisted with study concept and design, supervised the study, provided technical support, analyzed and interpreted data, and critically revised the manuscript; Dr Hoffmann assisted with study design, analyzed data, provided statistical expertise, and critically revised the manuscript; Dr McCrea assisted with study design, analyzed and interpreted data, provided technical support, and critically revised the manuscript; Dr Hammeke assisted with study concept and design, supervised the study, provided material and technical support, analyzed and interpreted data, and critically revised the manuscript; and all authors approved the final manuscript as submitted. This trial has been registered at www.clinicaltrials. gov (identifier NCT01101724). www.pediatrics. org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2014-0966 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2014-0966 Accepted for publication Nov 5, 2014 PEDIATRICS Volume 135, number 2, February 2015 ARTICLE at Univ Of Georgia Libraries on May 8, 2015 pediatrics.aappublications. org Downloaded from