Doctors warn: Do not rely only on what young athletes say when managing c...( ports settings return-to-play decision...),Health

ports settings, return-to-play decisions have been based almost exclusively on what the athlete says," said Dr. Lovell, author of the study. "This research further proves what we have learned from years of experience in our clinic that even athletes who report being symptom free may continue to exhibit neurocognitive deficits that they are either unaware of or are failing to report."

Although neurocognitive testing has been recognized in recent years as a cornerstone of concussion management by the leading international Concussion in Sport groups, the UPMC study is the first to formally evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of computer-based neurocognitive testing when used in combination with the athlete's report of symptoms.

The current study involved 122 concussed high school athletes, all of whom had undergone pre-season neurocognitive function baseline testing with ImPACTTM (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Neurocognitive Testing) as well as ImPACT testing again post-concussion to compare to baseline. Sixty-four percent of the concussed athletes reported a significant increase in symptoms compared to their pre-injury baselines at two days post-injury. Eighty-three percent of the concussed athletes demonstrated significantly poorer neurocognitive test results relative to their own baseline performance. Therefore, the addition of neurocognitive testing resulted in a net increase in sensitivity of 19 percent. The use of both symptom and neurocognitive test scores resulted in an increased sensitivity of 29 percent over reliance on symptoms alone. In contrast, zero percent of a control group of 70 non-concussed athletes demonstrated both symptoms and abnormal neurocognitive testing.

A concussion is any alteration of mental status resulting from the brain being jolted inside of the skull due to a blow to the head or upper body. Symptoms can include amnesia, dizziness, confusion, headache, nausea, disorientation
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Contact: Susan Manko
MankoSM@upmc.edu
412-647-3555
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
11-Sep-2006

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