The results of this systematic review identify the consistent and prevalent indicators of concussion and their associations , derived from the strongest evidence in the published literature .
BACKGROUND Currently , there is no evidence -based definition for concussion that is being uniformly applied in clinical and research setting s. OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review of the highest- quality literature about concussion and to assemble evidence about the prevalence and associations of key indicators of concussion .
The goal was to establish an evidence -based foundation from which to derive , in future work , a definition , diagnostic criteria , and prognostic indicators for concussion .
Epidemiology and predictors of post-concussive syndrome after minor head injury in an emergency population.
OBJECTIVE To determine if clinical variables or neurobehavioural test ( NBT ) scores obtained in the ED within 24 hours of minor head injury ( MHI ) predict the development of postconcussive syndrome ( PCS ) . METHODS Prospect i ve , observational study of 71 MHI patients and 60 orthopaedic controls . MHI defined as loss of consciousness < 10 minutes or amnesia , GCS 15 , no skull fracture or new neurologic focality on PE , and no brain injury on CT ( if done ) . All patients received a seven part NBT battery in the  ED . Telephone follow-up was done at 1 , 3 and 6 months to determine if patients met the DSM IV definition of PCS . ANALYSIS Stepwise , multivariate , logistic regression . RESULTS Predictors of PCS at 1 month were female gender ( OR = 7.8 ; 95 % CI = 41.6 , 1.98 ) , presence of both retro grade and antero grade amnesia ( OR = 0.055 ; CI = 0.002 , 0.47 ) , Digit Span Forward Scores ( OR = 0.748 ; CI = 0.52 , 1.03 ) and Hopkins Verbal Learning A scores ( OR = 0.786 ; CI = 0.65 , 0.91 ) ; at 3 months , presence of both retro grade and antero grade amnesia ( OR = 0.13 ; CI = 0.0 , 0.93 ) , Digit Span Forward Scores ( OR = 0.744 ; CI = 0.58 , 0.94 ) . No variables fit the model at 6 months . 92 % of males scoring > 25 on Hopkins Verbal Learning A did not have PCS at 1 month , and 89 % of females scoring < 9 on Digit Span Forward did have PCS at 1 month . CONCLUSIONS Gender and two NBTs can help predict PCS after MHI
The results of this systematic review identify the consistent and prevalent indicators of concussion and their associations , derived from the strongest evidence in the published literature .
BACKGROUND Currently , there is no evidence -based definition for concussion that is being uniformly applied in clinical and research setting s. OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review of the highest- quality literature about concussion and to assemble evidence about the prevalence and associations of key indicators of concussion .
The goal was to establish an evidence -based foundation from which to derive , in future work , a definition , diagnostic criteria , and prognostic indicators for concussion .