Neurotrauma in Naval Special Warfare Combat Crewmen and Fast Boat Operators

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Occupational Health
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Fast boat operators (FBOs) face repetitive high-G impacts at high speeds, posing a risk for head injuries and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
• The demanding operational environment of FBOs necessitates an evaluation of their neurocognitive health.
• Understanding the prevalence of neurocognitive symptoms and their link to TBI is crucial for this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of neurocognitive symptoms among FBOs.
• To investigate the association between a formal TBI diagnosis and the observed neurocognitive symptom burden.
• To identify factors contributing to neurocognitive deficits in FBOs.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 245 FBOs, collecting data on deployment duration and TBI diagnoses.
• Neurocognitive symptom burden was compared between FBOs with and without a TBI diagnosis using statistical analyses.
• Python was utilized for data analysis, including T-tests and chi-squared analyses.

Main Results:

• Of 198 respondents, 45.5% reported a medically diagnosed TBI.
• TBI diagnosis was significantly correlated with years as an FBO, deployment months, PTSD, and cervical spinal stenosis.
• TBI was the sole factor associated with increased neurobehavioral symptom inventory cognitive domain scores.

Conclusions:

• FBOs exhibit a substantial neurocognitive symptom burden, yet formal TBI diagnoses are relatively uncommon.
• Physicians should be vigilant in recognizing subtle postconcussion syndrome signs in FBOs.
• Implementing robust return-to-duty protocols and enhanced safety measures is essential to mitigate TBI risks for FBOs.