Transforming Pediatric Care: Technological Innovations for Concussion Prevention and Monitoring
Harshitha Valluri1, Alcy R Torres2
1Research Assistant, Albany Medical Center, Albany Medical College, USA.
Insights
Technological innovations like smart mouthguards and AI are improving pediatric concussion prevention and monitoring. These tools offer better detection and management for children
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurology
- Sports medicine
- Biomedical engineering
Background:
- Concussion is a frequent pediatric mild traumatic brain injury from head trauma.
- Sports injuries are the leading cause, followed by falls and accidents.
- Rising concussion rates necessitate better prevention and management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an updated overview of pediatric concussion.
- To focus on technological innovations for concussion prevention and monitoring.
- To highlight advancements in risk reduction and real-time detection.
Main Methods:
- Review of emerging technologies for concussion management.
- Inclusion of instrumented mouthguards, biomarkers, VR, and AI models.
- Analysis of technology's role in risk reduction and individualized care.
Main Results:
- Emerging tools offer enhanced safety in sports and daily activities.
- Technologies provide data for research and clinical decisions.
- AI models show potential for predicting concussion risk and severity.
Conclusions:
- Technological innovations promise to transform pediatric concussion care.
- Advancements can improve prevention, detection, monitoring, and management.
- Further validation in diverse pediatric populations is crucial.
Abstract:
Concussion is a common type of pediatric mild traumatic brain injury caused by head or body trauma, leading to transient disruptions in brain function. Sports-related injuries account for most cases, followed by falls, motor vehicle accidents, and recreational activities. The growing incidence of pediatric concussions highlights the need for improved prevention, monitoring, and management. This article offers an updated overview of pediatric concussion, with a focus on technological innovations in prevention and monitoring. We review emerging tools including instrumented mouthguards, biomarkers, virtual reality devices, and artificial intelligence prediction models that offer opportunities for risk reduction, real-time detection, and individualized management. These advancements may enhance safety in sports, recreation, and daily activities while providing data to guide further research and clinical decision-making. Technological innovations show promise in transforming the prevention, detection, monitoring, and management of pediatric concussion, ultimately improving outcomes for children. Further research is needed to validate these technologies in the pediatric population, especially in underserved groups.
