Post-concussive syndrome after mild head trauma: epidemiological features in Tunisia

Minor head injury is one of the major diagnoses requiring management in emergency departments (ED) but its squeals are not well studied in our country.

To describe the prevalence of post-concussive syndrome and its impacts on life activities, up to 6 months of follow-up, among patients having a minor head injury and discharged from ED.

A prospective bi-centric study including adults having a minor head trauma and consenting to be followed up to 6 months after discharge. The Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) was used at baseline, after 15 days, at 1 month, at 3 months and at 6 months post-injury to assess concussive symptoms. We also used the Rivermead Head Injury Follow-up Questionnaire (RHFUQ) to describe impacts of minor head trauma on life activities.

There were 130 consenting patients at baseline interview. Proportion of patients describing post-concussive symptoms at baseline was 71/130. At 6 months of follow-up, post-concussive syndrome was diagnosed among 21.4 % of participants. Sustaining symptoms at 6 months post-injury were mainly anger and irritability (12.5 %). Correlations between high RPQ sum rates since 15 days' post-injury call and the sum total rates of RHFUQ were significant. The major significant impact of minor head trauma at 6 months of follow-up was among domestic activities.

The two most important findings of this study were the huge proportion of patients having minor head injury and discharged from ED without any explanation of possible symptoms after head trauma and the unknown impacts on life activities.