title: Neuropsychological alterations and neuroradiological findings in patients with post-traumatic concussion: Results of a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has traditionally been considered to cause no significant brain damage since symptoms spontaneously remit after a few days. However, this idea is facing increasing scrutiny. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the presence of early cognitive alterations in a series of patients with mTBI and to link these findings to different markers of brain damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective study of a consecutive series of patients with mTBI who were evaluated over a 12-month period. Forty-one (3.7%) of the 1144 included patients had experienced a concussion. Patients underwent a routine clinical evaluation and a brain computed tomography (CT) scan, and were also administered a standardised test for post-concussion symptoms within the first 24hours of mTBI and also 1 to 2 weeks later. The second assessment also included a neuropsychological test battery. The results of these studies were compared to those of a control group of 28 healthy volunteers with similar characteristics. Twenty patients underwent an MRI scan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Verbal memory and learning were the cognitive functions most affected by mTBI. Seven out of the 20 patients with normal CT findings displayed structural alterations on MR images, which were compatible with diffuse axonal injury in 2 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results from this pilot study suggest that early cognitive alterations and structural brain lesions affect a considerable percentage of patients with post-concussion syndrome following mTBI.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación de Neurotraumatología y Neurocirugía (UNINN), Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rădoi
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación de Neurotraumatología y Neurocirugía (UNINN), Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, España; Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: pocama@neurotrauma.net.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Poca
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación de Neurotraumatología y Neurocirugía (UNINN), Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cañas
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cevallos
authors.affiliation: Urgencias de Neurotraumatología, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Membrado
authors.affiliation: Urgencias de Neurotraumatología, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Saavedra
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación de Neurotraumatología y Neurocirugía (UNINN), Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación de Neurotraumatología y Neurocirugía (UNINN), Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, España; Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martínez-Ricarte
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación de Neurotraumatología y Neurocirugía (UNINN), Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, España; Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sahuquillo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059906:Neuroimaging; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Diffuse axonal injury; Déficits neuropsicológicos; Lesión axonal difusa; Mild traumatic brain injury; Neuropsychological alterations; Post-concussion syndrome; Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2; Susceptibility weighted imaging; Susceptibility-weighted imaging; Síndrome posconmocional; Traumatismo craneoencefálico leve