Harini P Haran1, Silvia Bressan2, Ed Oakley3, Gavin A Davis4, Vicki Anderson4, Franz E Babl5. 1. Emergency Department, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. 2. Emergency Department, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; University of Padova, Italy. 3. Emergency Department, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 4. Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 5. Emergency Department, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: Franz.babl@rch.org.au.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: On-field management and return-to-play guidelines aim to ensure the identification and appropriate management of the concussed athlete. Compliance with current guidelines in many settings is unknown. We assessed whether key components of current concussion guidelines are being followed in child athletes. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. METHODS: Data were collected from children (5-18 years) presenting to a paediatric emergency department with sport-related concussion via researcher-administered surveys in the emergency department and during a follow up phone call. On hospital discharge all patients received a return to sports fact sheet based on the International Concussion in Sports Group. RESULTS: Ninety-three had sustained a concussion (mean age 12.7 (±0.27) years, 83% male). Sports played included Australian Football (47%), soccer (12%), rugby (9%) basketball (8%), other (25%). 82% participated in organised sports. Concussive signs or symptoms included loss of consciousness (41%), disorientation (36%), vomiting (23%), amnesia (30%), headache (60%). For concussive injury in organised sports (n=76), overall 42% were not managed according to recommended guidelines: 19% were not immediately removed from play, 29% were allowed to return to play on the same day and 27% were not assessed by qualified personnel. 93% of parents and 96% of patients were unaware of concussion or return-to-play guidelines from their organisations. Overall, 72% were compliant with provided return-to-play guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Many children with sports related-concussion are not formally assessed on-field and continue to play. On-field concussion management and return to play practices are often suboptimal. Awareness and education of coaches, teachers, parents and children need to be improved.
OBJECTIVES: On-field management and return-to-play guidelines aim to ensure the identification and appropriate management of the concussed athlete. Compliance with current guidelines in many settings is unknown. We assessed whether key components of current concussion guidelines are being followed in child athletes. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. METHODS: Data were collected from children (5-18 years) presenting to a paediatric emergency department with sport-related concussion via researcher-administered surveys in the emergency department and during a follow up phone call. On hospital discharge all patients received a return to sports fact sheet based on the International Concussion in Sports Group. RESULTS: Ninety-three had sustained a concussion (mean age 12.7 (±0.27) years, 83% male). Sports played included Australian Football (47%), soccer (12%), rugby (9%) basketball (8%), other (25%). 82% participated in organised sports. Concussive signs or symptoms included loss of consciousness (41%), disorientation (36%), vomiting (23%), amnesia (30%), headache (60%). For concussive injury in organised sports (n=76), overall 42% were not managed according to recommended guidelines: 19% were not immediately removed from play, 29% were allowed to return to play on the same day and 27% were not assessed by qualified personnel. 93% of parents and 96% of patients were unaware of concussion or return-to-play guidelines from their organisations. Overall, 72% were compliant with provided return-to-play guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Many children with sports related-concussion are not formally assessed on-field and continue to play. On-field concussion management and return to play practices are often suboptimal. Awareness and education of coaches, teachers, parents and children need to be improved.
Authors: Danielle C Hergert; Veronik Sicard; David D Stephenson; Sharvani Pabbathi Reddy; Cidney R Robertson-Benta; Andrew B Dodd; Edward J Bedrick; Gerard A Gioia; Timothy B Meier; Nicholas A Shaff; Davin K Quinn; Richard A Campbell; John P Phillips; Andrei A Vakhtin; Robert E Sapien; Andrew R Mayer Journal: J Int Neuropsychol Soc Date: 2021-08-11 Impact factor: 3.114
Authors: Jeffrey A King; Brieana Rodriquez; Irene Kim; Mark Nimmer; Lindsay D Nelson; Aniko Szabo; Huaying Dong; Danny Thomas Journal: Pediatr Emerg Care Date: 2022-04-01 Impact factor: 1.454
Authors: Silvia Bressan; Michael Takagi; Vicki Anderson; Gavin A Davis; Ed Oakley; Kevin Dunne; Cathriona Clarke; Melissa Doyle; Stephen Hearps; Vera Ignjatovic; Marc Seal; Franz E Babl Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2016-01-12 Impact factor: 2.692