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Updated: Aug 2, 2025
A Neuroscientific Approach to the Examination of Concussions in Student-Athletes
Published on: December 8, 2014
Risk of Two Sport-Related Concussions in the Same Year: Is the Second Concussion Worse?
Kristen Williams1,2, Tyler Zeoli1,2, Jackson H Allen3
1Department of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
Objectives:
1) Evaluate the frequency of same-year, repeat concussions; (2) assess predictors of sustaining a repeat concussion; and (3) compare outcomes of athletes with repeat concussions with athletes with single concussion.
Design:
A retrospective, case-control study.
Setting:
Regional sports concussion center.
Patients:
Adolescents sustaining a sport-related concussions (SRC) from November 2017 to October 2020.
Independent Variables:
Participants were dichotomized into 2 groups: (1) athletes with a single concussion; and (2) athletes with repeat concussions.
Main Outcome Measures:
Between group and within group analyses were completed to look for differences in demographics, personal and family history, concussion history, and recovery metrics between the 2 groups.
Results:
Of 834 athletes with an SRC, 56 (6.7%) sustained a repeat concussion and 778 (93.3%) had a single concussion. Between group: Personal history of migraines (19.6% vs 9.5%, χ 2 = 5.795, P = 0.02), family history of migraines (37.5% vs 24.5%, χ 2 = 4.621, P = 0.03), and family history of psychiatric disorders (25% vs 13.1%, χ 2 = 6.224, P = 0.01) were significant predictors of sustaining a repeat concussion. Within group: Among those with a repeat concussion, initial symptom severity was greater (Z = -2.422; P = 0.02) during the repeat concussion and amnesia was more common (χ 2 = 4.775, P = 0.03) after the initial concussion.
Conclusions:
In a single-center study of 834 athletes, 6.7% suffered a same-year, repeat concussion. Risk factors included personal/family migraine history and family psychiatric history. For athletes with repeat concussions, initial symptom score was higher after the second concussion, yet amnesia was more common after the initial concussion.
