Frequency and Outcomes of a Symptom-Free Waiting Period After Sport-Related Concussion. Am J Sports Med 2016 Nov;44(11):2941-2946
Date
07/03/2016Pubmed ID
27371548Pubmed Central ID
PMC6589833DOI
10.1177/0363546516651821Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84994115499 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 19 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Guidelines and practices for the management of sport-related concussion (SRC) have evolved swiftly over the past 2 decades. Despite common recommendations for a symptom-free waiting period (SFWP) before returning to sport, past reports have suggested poor utilization rates for this intervention.
PURPOSE: To obtain current estimates of the utilization and characterization of SFWPs with high school and collegiate athletes.
STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology study.
METHODS: Data were extracted from a larger prospective study that followed athletes with SRC across 13 institutions in southeastern Wisconsin from 2012 to 2014. Participants included 143 contact and collision sport athletes who were followed serially through their recoveries after SRCs.
RESULTS: In the current study sample, 99.3% of athletes used an SFWP. The mean self-reported symptom duration was 6.35 days (median, 5 days), with 72.7% reporting symptom recovery within 1 week of injury, 93.7% within 2 weeks, and 99.3% within 30 days. Rate of same-season repeat concussion was low (3.8%) and was similar to or lower than the overall rate of concussion (4.3%). Five same-season repeat concussions occurred at a range of 8 to 42 days after initial injuries.
CONCLUSION: In comparison with prior published data collected from 1999 to 2004, utilization and duration of SFWPs were higher in the current study samples (99.3% vs 60.3% of athletes reported an SFWP; mean duration, 6.1 vs 3.2 days), and athletes were withheld from sports for more days than previously reported (12.3 vs 7.4 days). Rate of same-season repeat concussion was equivalent to that of prior published data. The findings support improved adherence to clinical management guidelines through increased utilization of SFWPs after SRC.
Author List
Pfaller AY, Nelson LD, Apps JN, Walter KD, McCrea MAAuthors
Jennifer A N Apps PhD Assistant Provost, Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMichael McCrea PhD Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Lindsay D. Nelson PhD Associate Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Kevin D. Walter MD Associate Professor in the Orthopaedic Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAthletic Injuries
Brain Concussion
Female
Humans
Male
Prospective Studies
Return to Sport
Watchful Waiting
Wisconsin
Young Adult
