title: Evaluation of the Zurich Guidelines and exercise testing for return to play in adolescents following concussion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate return to play (RTP) and return to classroom outcomes when the Zurich guidelines are combined with a standardized exercise treadmill test [Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test (BCTT)] and computerized neuropsychological (cNP) testing in adolescent athletes after concussion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review and follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  University Sports Medicine Concussion Clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred seventeen athletes (75% male) with sport concussion ages 13 to 19 years and telephone follow-up of 91 (77.8%) athletes and their parents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Concussed athletes who were asymptomatic at rest completed Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics or Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test cNP testing followed by the BCTT on the same day. Athletes then followed the Zurich consensus guidelines for RTP.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measure was the degree of success in RTP, that is, RTP with or without return of concussive symptoms. Secondary outcome measure was return to school with or without symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All athletes returned to sport without exacerbation of symptoms. Telephone follow-up revealed that 38.5% experienced new issues upon return to the classroom. Forty-eight percent of athletes had 1 or more cNP subtests below average (<ninth percentile) when asymptomatic. Ultimately, performance on cNP was not predictive of return to school issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BCTT in combination with the Zurich consensus guidelines seems to be safe and successful for RTP. There is evidence to suggest that cNP testing performed in athletes who do not have a preinjury baseline test was not related to RTP or problems upon return to school.
authors.affiliation: *Departments of Orthopaedics; †Nuclear Medicine; ‡Biostatistics; and §Psychiatry, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York.
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Darling
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Leddy
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Amy J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Surace
authors.forename: Jeffrey C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Miecznikowski
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Willer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D001288:Attention; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012574:Schools; D055815:Young Adult