Improving outcome after paediatric concussion: challenges and possibilities
Miriam H Beauchamp1, Fanny Dégeilh2, Sean C Rose3
1Sainte-Justine Research Center, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
Insights
Paediatric concussion, common in children and adolescents from various injuries, presents complex challenges. This review offers evidence-based strategies to improve outcomes for young concussion patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Traumatology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Concussion is prevalent across all age groups, including infants, children, and adolescents.
- It frequently presents in primary care, emergency departments, and trauma clinics.
- Concussion's diverse symptoms and outcomes are influenced by individual, environmental, and clinical factors, posing health and economic burdens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present empirical evidence for enhancing outcomes in pediatric concussion.
- To provide a comprehensive perspective on concussion beyond sports-related injuries.
- To discuss current challenges and future directions in pediatric concussion management.
Main Methods:
- Review of empirical evidence on pediatric concussion.
- Inclusion of studies on both sports and non-sports injury mechanisms.
- Analysis of contemporary challenges in prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, and intervention.
Main Results:
- Over two decades of research highlight the complexity and heterogeneity of pediatric concussion.
- Evidence suggests multiple factors influence concussion outcomes in young individuals.
- Current research continues to reveal new questions regarding concussion's impact.
Conclusions:
- Improving pediatric concussion outcomes requires a multifaceted approach.
- Addressing challenges in prevention, diagnosis, and intervention is crucial.
- Further research is needed to fully understand and manage pediatric concussion effectively.
Abstract:
The term concussion has permeated mainstream media and household vocabulary mainly due to awareness regarding the risks of concussion in professional contact sports, yet it occurs across a variety of settings and ages. Concussion is prevalent in infants, preschoolers, children, and adolescents, and is a common presentation or reason for referral to primary care providers, emergency departments, and specialised trauma clinics. Its broad range of symptoms and sequelae vary according to multiple individual, environmental, and clinical factors and can lead to health and economic burden. More than 20 years of research into risk factors and consequences of paediatric concussion has revealed as many questions as answers, and scientific work and clinical cases continue to expose its complexity and heterogeneity. In this Review, we present empirical evidence for improving outcome after paediatric concussion. We consider work pertaining to both sports and other injury mechanisms to provide a perspective that should be viewed as complementary to publications focused specifically on sports concussion. Contemporary challenges in prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, and intervention are discussed alongside pathways and future directions for improving outcome.
