Time to Rehabilitation in Pediatric Concussion Patients Influences Recovery Outcomes

Area of Science:

• Pediatric neurology
• Sports medicine
• Rehabilitation science

Background:

• Targeted rehabilitation aids concussion recovery, especially for complex cases.
• Factors influencing concussion recovery timelines are not fully understood.
• The impact of rehabilitation timing on recovery trajectory requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate concussion recovery trajectories based on time to rehabilitation.
• To identify risk factors for protracted recovery in pediatric concussion patients.
• To assess the influence of delayed care on recovery outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 103 pediatric concussion patients.
• Categorization of patients by time to rehabilitation: ≤3 days, 4-7 days, >7 days.
• Analysis of clinical factors, neurocognitive tests (Trails B-A), and symptom scales.

Main Results:

• Time to concussion evaluation and rehabilitation initiation are significant predictors of total recovery time.
• Each day's delay in concussion evaluation increased protracted recovery risk by 34%.
• Trails B-A scores also correlated with longer recovery durations.

Conclusions:

• Prompt concussion evaluation and rehabilitation are crucial for pediatric patients needing multimodal care.
• Early intervention improves recovery outcomes and reduces the likelihood of prolonged concussion symptoms.
• Timely access to specialized concussion clinics and physical therapy services is vital.