Faculty Collaboration Database

Do Head Injury Biomechanics Predict Concussion Clinical Recovery in College American Football Players? Ann Biomed Eng 2020 Nov;48(11):2555-2565

Date

11/03/2020

Pubmed ID

33136240

DOI

10.1007/s10439-020-02658-y

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85094920232 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   15 Citations

Abstract

Identifying the associations between head impact biomechanics and clinical recovery may inform better head impact monitoring procedures and identify athletes who may benefit from early treatments aimed to enhance recovery. The purpose of this study was to test whether head injury biomechanics are associated with clinical recovery of symptom severity, balance, and mental status, as well as symptom resolution time (SRT) and return-to-participation (RTP) time. We studied 45 college American football players (n = 51 concussions) who sustained an incident concussion while participating in a multi-site study. Player race/ethnicity, prior concussion, medical history, position, body mass index, event type, and impact location were covariates in our multivariable analyses. Multivariable negative binomial regression models analyzed associations between our study outcomes and (1) injury-causing linear and rotational head impact severity, (2) season repetitive head impact exposure (RHIE), and (3) injury day RHIE. Median SRT was 6.1 days (IQR 5.8 days, n = 45) and median RTP time was 12.3 days (IQR 7.8 days, n = 36) across our study sample. RTP time was 86% (Ratio 1.86, 95% CI [1.05, 3.28]) longer in athletes with a concussion history. Offensive players had SRTs 49% shorter than defensive players (Ratio 0.51, 95% CI [0.29, 0.92]). Per-unit increases in season RHIE were associated with 22% longer SRT (Ratio 1.22, 95% CI [1.09, 1.36]) but 28% shorter RTP time (Ratio 0.72, 95% CI [0.56, 0.93]). No other head injury biomechanics predicted injury recovery.

Author List

Mihalik JP, Chandran A, Powell JR, Roby PR, Guskiewicz KM, Stemper BD, Shah AS, Rowson S, Duma S, Harezlak J, Riggen L, Broglio SP, McAllister TW, McCrea M, CARE Consortium Investigators

Authors

Michael McCrea PhD Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Brian Stemper PhD Professor in the Biomedical Engineering department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Acceleration
Adolescent
Adult
Athletes
Athletic Injuries
Biomechanical Phenomena
Brain Concussion
Football
Head Protective Devices
Humans
Male
Universities