Persistent postconcussive symptoms in children and adolescents with mild traumatic brain injury receiving initial head computed tomography
Authors: Riemann Lennart , Voormolen Daphne C. , Rauen Katrin , Zweckberger Klaus , Unterberg Andreas , Younsi Alexander , _ _ , _ _ , Åkerlund Cecilia , Amrein Krisztina , Andelic Nada , Andreassen Lasse , Anke Audny , Antoni Anna , Audibert Gérard , Azouvi Philippe , Azzolini Maria Luisa , Bartels Ronald , Barzó Pál , Beauvais Romuald , Beer Ronny , Bellander Bo-Michael , Belli Antonio , Benali Habib , Berardino Maurizio , Beretta Luigi , Blaabjerg Morten , Bragge Peter , Brazinova Alexandra , Brinck Vibeke , Brooker Joanne , Brorsson Camilla , Buki Andras , Bullinger Monika , Cabeleira Manuel , Caccioppola Alessio , Calappi Emiliana , Calvi Maria Rosa , Cameron Peter , Lozano Guillermo Carbayo , Carbonara Marco , Cavallo Simona , Chevallard Giorgio , Chieregato Arturo , Citerio Giuseppe , Ceyisakar Iris , Clusmann Hans , Coburn Mark , Coles Jonathan , Cooper Jamie D. , Correia Marta , Čović Amra , Curry Nicola , Czeiter Endre , Czosnyka Marek , Dahyot-Fizelier Claire , Dark Paul , Dawes Helen , Keyser Véronique De , Degos Vincent , Corte Francesco Della , Boogert Hugo den , Depreitere Bart , Ðilvesi Ðula , Dixit Abhishek , Donoghue Emma , Dreier Jens , Dulière Guy-Loup , Ercole Ari , Esser Patrick , Ezer Erzsébet , Fabricius Martin , Feigin Valery L. , Foks Kelly , Frisvold Shirin , Furmanov Alex , Gagliardo Pablo , Galanaud Damien , Gantner Dashiell , Gao Guoyi , George Pradeep , Ghuysen Alexandre , Giga Lelde , Glocker Ben , Golubovic Jagoš , Gomez Pedro A. , Gratz Johannes , Gravesteijn Benjamin , Grossi Francesca , Gruen Russell L. , Gupta Deepak , Haagsma Juanita A. , Haitsma Iain , Helbok Raimund , Helseth Eirik , Horton Lindsay , Huijben Jilske , Hutchinson Peter J. , Jacobs Bram , Jankowski Stefan , Jarrett Mike , Jiang Ji-yao , Johnson Faye , Jones Kelly , Karan Mladen , Kolias Angelos G. , Kompanje Erwin , Kondziella Daniel , Koraropoulos Evgenios , Koskinen Lars-Owe , Kovács Noémi , Kowark Ana , Lagares Alfonso , Lanyon Linda , Laureys Steven , Lecky Fiona , Ledoux Didier , Lefering Rolf , Legrand Valerie , Lejeune Aurelie , Levi Leon , Lightfoot Roger , Lingsma Hester , Maas Andrew I. R. , Castaño-León Ana M. , Maegele Marc , Majdan Marek , Manara Alex , Manley Geoffrey , Martino Costanza , Maréchal Hugues , Mattern Julia , McMahon Catherine , Melegh Béla , Menon David , Menovsky Tomas , Mikolic Ana , Misset Benoit , Muraleedharan Visakh , Murray Lynnette , Negru Ancuta , Nelson David , Newcombe Virginia , Nieboer Daan , Nyirádi József , Olubukola Otesile , Oresic Matej , Ortolano Fabrizio , Palotie Aarno , Parizel Paul M. , Payen Jean-François , Perera Natascha , Perlbarg Vincent , Persona Paolo , Peul Wilco , Piippo-Karjalainen Anna , Pirinen Matti , Ples Horia , Polinder Suzanne , Pomposo Inigo , Posti Jussi P. , Puybasset Louis , Radoi Andreea , Ragauskas Arminas , Raj Rahul , Rambadagalla Malinka , Rhodes Jonathan , Richardson Sylvia , Richter Sophie , Ripatti Samuli , Rocka Saulius , Roe Cecilie , Roise Olav , Rosand Jonathan , Rosenfeld Jeffrey V. , Rosenlund Christina , Rosenthal Guy , Rossaint Rolf , Rossi Sandra , Rueckert Daniel , Rusnák Martin , Sahuquillo Juan , Sakowitz Oliver , Sanchez-Porras Renan , Sandor Janos , Schäfer Nadine , Schmidt Silke , Schoechl Herbert , Schoonman Guus , Schou Rico Frederik , Schwendenwein Elisabeth , Sewalt Charlie , Skandsen Toril , Smielewski Peter , Sorinola Abayomi , Stamatakis Emmanuel , Stanworth Simon , Stevens Robert , Stewart William , Steyerberg Ewout W. , Stocchetti Nino , Sundström Nina , Synnot Anneliese , Takala Riikka , Tamás Viktória , Tamosuitis Tomas , Taylor Mark Steven , Ao Braden Te , Tenovuo Olli , Theadom Alice , Thomas Matt , Tibboel Dick , Timmers Marjolein , Tolias Christos , Trapani Tony , Tudora Cristina Maria , Vajkoczy Peter , Vallance Shirley , Valeinis Egils , Vámos Zoltán , Jagt Mathieu van der , Steen Gregory Van der , Naalt Joukje van der , Dijck Jeroen T. J. M. van , Essen Thomas A. van , Hecke Wim Van , Heugten Caroline van , Praag Dominique Van , Vyvere Thijs Vande , Wijk Roel P. J. van , Vargiolu Alessia , Vega Emmanuel , Velt Kimberley , Verheyden Jan , Vespa Paul M. , Vik Anne , Vilcinis Rimantas , Volovici Victor , Steinbüchel Nicole von , Voormolen Daphne , Vulekovic Petar , Wang Kevin K. W. , Wiegers Eveline , Williams Guy , Wilson Lindsay , Winzeck Stefan , Wolf Stefan , Yang Zhihui , Ylén Peter , Younsi Alexander , Zeiler Frederick A. , Zelinkova Veronika , Ziverte Agate , Zoerle Tommaso 
Published: February 2021

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the prevalence of postconcussive symptoms and their relation to health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in pediatric and adolescent patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) who received head CT imaging during initial assessment.

METHODS

Patients aged between 5 and 21 years with mTBI (Glasgow Coma Scale scores 13–15) and available Rivermead Post Concussion Questionnaire (RPQ) at 6 months of follow-up in the multicenter, prospectively collected CENTER-TBI (Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in TBI) study were included. The prevalence of postconcussive symptoms was assessed, and the occurrence of postconcussive syndrome (PSC) based on the ICD-10 criteria, was analyzed. HRQOL was compared in patients with and without PCS using the Quality of Life after Brain Injury (QOLIBRI) questionnaire.

RESULTS

A total of 196 adolescent or pediatric mTBI patients requiring head CT imaging were included. High-energy trauma was prevalent in more than half of cases (54%), abnormalities on head CT scans were detected in 41%, and admission to the regular ward or intensive care unit was necessary in 78%. Six months postinjury, 36% of included patients had experienced at least one moderate or severe symptom on the RPQ. PCS was present in 13% of adolescents and children when considering symptoms of at least moderate severity, and those patients had significantly lower QOLIBRI total scores, indicating lower HRQOL, compared with young patients without PCS (57 vs 83 points, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescent and pediatric mTBI patients requiring head CT imaging show signs of increased trauma severity. Postconcussive symptoms are present in up to one-third of those patients, and PCS can be diagnosed in 13% 6 months after injury. Moreover, PCS is significantly associated with decreased HRQOL.