Concussion management by paediatricians: a national survey of Canadian paediatricians

To assess the use of concussion/mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) guidelines, criteria used in the initiation of return-to-play (RTP) and management of RTP for brain injured children and youth by Canadian paediatricians.

A cross-sectional survey was mailed through the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program to ∼2600 paediatric specialists and sub-specialists.

Of 809 respondents (31%), 503 encountered newly diagnosed paediatric concussion/mTBI within the past 12 months, reporting ∼6900 cases. Of the respondents, 96.7% (95% CI = 94.7-98.6%) reported using one or more of the presented concussion/mTBI guidelines in the management of their patients. The most frequently reported criteria (>50%) used to determine asymptomatic status were: free from all concussion symptoms, by patient report (92%), by proxy report (76%), normal physical examination (65%), in school full-time, with usual school performance (53%). Most respondents (84.9%) did not initiate RTP immediately after their patients became asymptomatic. The median time waiting before initiating RTP was 7 days. The median duration of the RTP sequence was 7 days, with considerable variation reported.

Canadian paediatricians frequently encounter patients with concussion/mTBI. Their concussion/mTBI care appears to be consistent with current guidelines, but also shows practice variation, particularly when current guidelines become less proscriptive.