title: A community return-to-play mTBI clinic: results of a pilot program and survey of high school athletes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High school athletes who sustain a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or concussion are required to be removed from play until clearance by a provider. A regional pediatric trauma center offered an mTBI clinic to evaluate students for return to play (RTP).
  
  
  METHODS
  An mTBI clinic was developed in collaboration with a high school district containing three schools. This program evaluated students suffering from sports-related head trauma, specifically football injuries. Community mTBI education was performed, a standardized RTP algorithm was developed, and a postseason survey was administered to football players.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight students playing football were seen by the mTBI clinic. The average time until RTP for clinic patients was 16.9 days. Four hundred five players were surveyed. Of players responding to the survey, 40 (15%) reported sustaining an mTBI during the football season. Of those sustaining an mTBI, 9 (22.5%) did not report their symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the mTBI rate is similar to reported rates, the unreported mTBI episodes were lower (22.5%) than previously published self-reported mTBI rates. The RTP algorithm was successful in returning athletes in 16.9 days. The algorithm and data can be utilized by other organizations in establishment of an mTBI clinic and RTP program.
authors: Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Rehabilitation and Pediatric Trauma Services, Santa Barbara, CA, USA. Electronic address: ekelleher@sbch.org.
authors: Eileen
authors: E
authors: Kelleher
authors: Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Rehabilitation and Pediatric Trauma Services, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Taylor-Linzey
authors: Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Rehabilitation and Pediatric Trauma Services, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Ferrigno
authors: Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Rehabilitation and Pediatric Trauma Services, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Bryson
authors: Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Rehabilitation and Pediatric Trauma Services, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Kaminski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000465:Algorithms; D056352:Athletes; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002140:California; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020127:Recovery of Function
keywords: Adolescent; Athlete; Concussion; High school; Mild traumatic brain injury; Pediatric; RTP; Return to play; Underreported concussion; Underreported mTBI; mTBI; mTBI clinic; mTBI legislation