Maya N Sohn1, Shane Virani2,3,4, Helen L Carlson2,5,6, Shelby MacPhail7, Trevor A Low8, Vickie Plourde9, Keith Owen Yeates2,5,8,10,6, Catherine Lebel2,6,11, Brian L Brooks2,4,5,8,10. 1. Department of Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. 2. Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada. 3. Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. 4. Neuropsychology Service, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, AB, Canada. 5. Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. 6. Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada. 7. Department of Neuroscience, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States of America. 8. Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. 9. École de Psychologie, Faculté des sciences de la santé et des services communautaires, Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB, Canada. 10. Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. 11. Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The long-term effects of pediatric concussion on white matter microstructure are poorly understood. This study investigated long-term changes in white matter diffusion properties of the corpus callosum in youth several years after concussion. METHODS: Participants were 8-19 years old with a history of concussion (n = 36) or orthopedic injury (OI) (n = 21). Mean time since injury for the sample was 2.6 years (SD = 1.6). Participants underwent diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, completed cognitive testing, and rated their post-concussion symptoms. Measures of diffusivity (fractional anisotropy, mean, axial, and radial diffusivity) were extracted from white matter tracts in the genu, body, and splenium regions of the corpus callosum. The genu and splenium tracts were further subdivided into 21 equally spaced regions along the tract and diffusion values were extracted from each of these smaller regions. RESULTS: White matter tracts in the genu, body, and splenium did not differ in diffusivity properties between youth with a history of concussion and those with a history of OI. No significant group differences were found in subdivisions of the genu and splenium after correcting for multiple comparisons. Diffusion metrics did not significantly correlate with symptom reports or cognitive performance. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that at approximately 2.5 years post-injury, youth with prior concussion do not have differences in their corpus callosum microstructure compared to youth with OI. Although these results are promising from the perspective of long-term recovery, further research utilizing longitudinal study designs is needed to confirm the long-term effects of pediatric concussion on white matter microstructure.
OBJECTIVE: The long-term effects of pediatric concussion on white matter microstructure are poorly understood. This study investigated long-term changes in white matter diffusion properties of the corpus callosum in youth several years after concussion. METHODS:Participants were 8-19 years old with a history of concussion (n = 36) or orthopedic injury (OI) (n = 21). Mean time since injury for the sample was 2.6 years (SD = 1.6). Participants underwent diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, completed cognitive testing, and rated their post-concussion symptoms. Measures of diffusivity (fractional anisotropy, mean, axial, and radial diffusivity) were extracted from white matter tracts in the genu, body, and splenium regions of the corpus callosum. The genu and splenium tracts were further subdivided into 21 equally spaced regions along the tract and diffusion values were extracted from each of these smaller regions. RESULTS: White matter tracts in the genu, body, and splenium did not differ in diffusivity properties between youth with a history of concussion and those with a history of OI. No significant group differences were found in subdivisions of the genu and splenium after correcting for multiple comparisons. Diffusion metrics did not significantly correlate with symptom reports or cognitive performance. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that at approximately 2.5 years post-injury, youth with prior concussion do not have differences in their corpus callosum microstructure compared to youth with OI. Although these results are promising from the perspective of long-term recovery, further research utilizing longitudinal study designs is needed to confirm the long-term effects of pediatric concussion on white matter microstructure.
Authors: Shane Virani; Alexander Barton; Bradley G Goodyear; Keith Owen Yeates; Brian L Brooks Journal: J Child Neurol Date: 2021-05-08 Impact factor: 1.987