Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Children

Aaron M Yengo-Kahn; Rebecca A Reynolds; Christopher M Bonfield

doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2021.04.011

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Children

Pediatr Clin North Am. 2021 Aug;68(4):857-874. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2021.04.011.

Authors

Aaron M Yengo-Kahn¹, Rebecca A Reynolds¹, Christopher M Bonfield²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Medical Center North, Suite T-4224, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
² Department of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Medical Center North, Suite T-4224, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. Electronic address: chris.bonfield@vumc.org.

PMID: 34247714
DOI: 10.1016/j.pcl.2021.04.011

Abstract

Mild traumatic brain injury accounts for an estimated 4.8 million cases of pediatric traumatic brain injuries worldwide every year. In the United States, 70% of mild traumatic brain injury cases are due to sports and recreational injuries. Early diagnosis, especially in active children, is critical to preventing recurrent injuries. Management is guided by graded protocols for returning to school and activity. Ninety percent of children recover within 1 month of injury. Promising research has shown that early referral to specialty concussion care and multidisciplinary treatment with physical and occupational therapy may shorten recovery time and improve neurologic outcomes.

Keywords: Concussion; Pediatric; Return-to-learn; Return-to-play; Sport-related concussion; mTBI.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Athletic Injuries / rehabilitation*
Brain Concussion / rehabilitation*
Child
Disease Management
Evidence-Based Medicine*
Family Practice / standards
Humans
Recovery of Function
Referral and Consultation / statistics & numerical data
Students / statistics & numerical data