title: Evaluation of the King-Devick test as a concussion screening tool in high school football players.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Concussion is the most common type of traumatic brain injury, and results from impact or impulsive forces to the head, neck or face. Due to the variability and subtlety of symptoms, concussions may go unrecognized or be ignored, especially with the pressure placed on athletes to return to competition. The King-Devick (KD) test, an oculomotor test originally designed for reading evaluation, was recently validated as a concussion screening tool in collegiate athletes. A prospective study was performed using high school football players in an attempt to study the KD as a concussion screening tool in this younger population.
  
  
  METHODS
  343 athletes from four local high school football teams were recruited to participate. These athletes were given baseline KD tests prior to competition. Individual demographic information was collected on the subjects. Standard team protocol was employed to determine if a concussion had occurred during competition. Immediately after diagnosis, the KD test was re-administered to the concussed athlete for comparison to baseline. Post-season testing was also performed in non-concussed individuals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 343 athletes, nine were diagnosed with concussions. In all concussed players, cumulative read times for the KD test were significantly increased (p<0.001). Post-season testing of non-concussed athletes revealed minimal change in read times relative to baseline. Univariate analysis revealed that history of concussion was the only demographic factor predictive of concussion in this cohort.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The KD test is an accurate and easily administered sideline screening tool for concussion in adolescent football players.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital, St. John Providence Health System, United States.
authors.forename: Daniel H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Seidman
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital, St. John Providence Health System, United States.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burlingame
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital, St. John Providence Health System, United States.
authors.forename: Lina R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Yousif
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital, St. John Providence Health System, United States.
authors.forename: Xinh P
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Donahue
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital, St. John Providence Health System, United States.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krier
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital, St. John Providence Health System, United States.
authors.forename: Lydia J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Rayes
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital, St. John Providence Health System, United States.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Rehabilitation, St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital, St. John Providence Health System, United States.
authors.forename: Muareen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lilla
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Rehabilitation, St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital, St. John Providence Health System, United States.
authors.forename: Rochelle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mazurek
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Rehabilitation, St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital, St. John Providence Health System, United States.
authors.forename: Kristie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hittle
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital, St. John Providence Health System, United States.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCloskey
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital, St. John Providence Health System, United States.
authors.forename: Saroj
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Misra
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education and Research, St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital, St. John Providence Health System, United States. Electronic address: michael.shaw@stjohn.org.
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students
keywords: Diffuse axonal injury; Football; Neuropsychological tests; Post-concussion syndrome; Traumatic brain injury; Visual motor coordination