Proposal of a Functional Impairment Symptom Scale for Concussion
Matthew T McCarthy1, Sarah Janse2, Natalie M Pizzimenti3
1219668Summit Medical Group, NJ, USA.
Journal of Child Neurology
|August 12, 2020
Summary
A new Functional Impairment Scale for concussion symptoms strongly correlates with the SCAT-3. This scale may offer a more intuitive way to track concussion recovery and functional impact in patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Sports Medicine
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Current concussion symptom scales rely on subjective ratings, lacking objective measures of functional impairment.
- This limitation hinders accurate tracking of recovery and the impact of symptoms on daily activities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel concussion symptom scale based on functional impairment.
- To compare this new scale with the widely used Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-3 (SCAT-3).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 133 patients (age 9-22) with acute concussion.
- Patients completed both the SCAT-3 symptom evaluation and the proposed Functional Impairment Scale.
- Statistical analysis including Pearson correlation and hazard ratio calculations for time to clearance.
Main Results:
- The Functional Impairment Scale showed a strong correlation (r=0.98, P<.001) with the SCAT-3.
- Both scales were associated with longer recovery times, with increased scores correlating to delayed clearance.
- The Functional Impairment Scale demonstrated a similar association with time to concussion clearance as the SCAT-3.
Conclusions:
- A concussion symptom scale based on functional impairment is a viable alternative to subjective scales like SCAT-3.
- This new scale may provide a more intuitive and objective method for monitoring concussion symptom impact.
- Further validation through prospective studies is recommended to confirm its clinical utility.
