Unreported concussion in high school football players: implications for prevention.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the frequency of unreported concussion and estimate more accurately the overall rate of concussion in high school football players.


METHODS
Retrospective, confidential survey completed by all subjects at the end of the football season.


METHODS
A total of 1,532 varsity football players from 20 high schools in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, area were surveyed.


METHODS
The structured survey assessed (1) number of concussions before the current season, (2) number of concussions sustained during the current season, (3) whether concussion during the current season was reported, (4) to whom concussion was reported, and (5) reasons for not reporting concussion.


RESULTS
Of respondents, 29.9% reported a previous history of concussion, and 15.3% reported sustaining a concussion during the current football season; of those, 47.3% reported their injury. Concussions were reported most frequently to a certified athletic trainer (76.7% of reported injuries). The most common reasons for concussion not being reported included a player not thinking the injury was serious enough to warrant medical attention (66.4% of unreported injuries), motivation not to be withheld from competition (41.0%), and lack of awareness of probable concussion (36.1%).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings reflect a higher prevalence of concussion in high school football players than previously reported in the literature. The ultimate concern associated with unreported concussion is an athlete's increased risk of cumulative or catastrophic effects from recurrent injury. Future prevention initiatives should focus on education to improve athlete awareness of the signs of concussion and potential risks of unreported injury.
McCrea
Michael
M
Neuroscience Center, Waukesha Memorial Hospital, WI 53188, USA. michael.mccrea@phci.org
Hammeke
Thomas
T
Olsen
Gary
G
Leo
Peter
P
Guskiewicz
Kevin
K
D000293:Adolescent; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology