Symptom Burden, School Function, and Physical Activity One Year Following Pediatric Concussion

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Sports Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Concussion in youth can impact symptom burden, school function, and physical activity.
• Understanding long-term outcomes is crucial for effective management and recovery protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize symptom burden, school function, and physical activity in youth one year after acute concussion.
• To compare outcomes between youth with a single acute concussion and those with subsequent repeat concussions.

Main Methods:

• Secondary analysis of a prospective, multicenter cohort study involving youth aged 5-18 years presenting to Canadian emergency departments within 48 hours of concussion.
• Participants completed an electronic survey one year post-injury, assessing symptoms, school function, and physical activity using standardized measures.

Main Results:

• Youth with a single concussion were more likely to be symptom-free (75% vs. 50%) and fully recovered (90% vs. 74%) at one year compared to those with repeat concussions.
• While most youth returned to normal school routines, those with repeat concussions reported greater headache persistence and were less likely to return to normal physical activities and sports.
• Physical symptoms generally decreased at one year for both groups, but specific symptom burden differed between single and repeat concussion cohorts.

Conclusions:

• The majority of youth achieve full recovery and symptom resolution one year after an initial concussion.
• Repeat concussions in youth are associated with poorer outcomes, including persistent symptoms and delayed return to normal activities and sports.
• These findings highlight the importance of monitoring and tailored interventions for youth experiencing multiple concussions.