title: Cognitive and physical symptoms of concussive injury in children: a detailed longitudinal recovery study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recovery from concussion sustained in childhood and adolescence is poorly understood. We explored patterns of recovery for neurocognition and postconcussive symptoms following concussion in children and adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a prospective, longitudinal design, we collected baseline data on 728 children and adolescents aged 10-17 years. 10 participants sustained a concussive injury (n=10) in the 12 months following baseline testing and they were reviewed at day 5, 10 and 30 postconcussion. Assessments included the CogSport for Kids computerised test battery to evaluate neurocognitive function and self-report, and parent measures of postconcussive symptoms. At day 30, parents also completed measures rating their child's quality of life and executive functions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children and adolescents displayed a gradual reduction in postconcussive symptoms over the 30 days following injury. At day 5, 87% of participants were reporting physical and cognitive symptoms, with a generalised reduction in all symptoms by day 10 (40% of participants). On the computerised measure, reaction time was slower after concussion, but returned to baseline levels by day 30. At day 30, 10% of participants demonstrated ongoing postconcussive symptoms. Number of previous concussions was related to speed of symptom resolution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At 5 days postconcussion, the majority of children and adolescents experienced debilitating postconcussive symptoms. However, by 30 days postinjury, 90% demonstrated recovery to normal for both neurocognition and postconcussive symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Child Neuropsychology, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Crowe
authors.affiliation: Institute for Safety Compensation and Recovery Research, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Collie
authors.affiliation: Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hearps
authors.affiliation: Child Neuropsychology, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dooley
authors.affiliation: Melbourne Neuropsychology Services, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Clausen
authors.affiliation: Perry Maddocks Trellope, Lawyers, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maddocks
authors.affiliation: The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McCrory
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Department, Cabrini Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Child Neuropsychology, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010290:Parents; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011930:Reaction Time; D057566:Self Report; D014739:Victoria