Prevalence of Concussion in the Admitted Trauma Patients Using Systematic Screening

BACKGROUND: While most concussion research focuses on sports or military injuries, most emergency department-diagnosed concussions result from other forms of trauma, highlighting a gap in understanding concussion prevalence among admitted trauma patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of concussion in admitted trauma patients using systematic screening, and to evaluate associated symptoms, screening tool performance, and cognitive deficits within this population. METHODS: A single-center, prospective cross-sectional study was conducted over 3 months (April-June 2023) at a southeastern US Level I Trauma Center that examined concussion prevalence in admitted trauma patients using systematic screening. The Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC) was completed within 48 hours for eligible patients, and the Cognistat evaluation was used to assess concussion-related deficits; 3 additional questions assessed amnesia. RESULTS: A total of 1077 patients were evaluated for study inclusion, with 285 meeting criteria. The age range was 14-95 years, with a mean of 46.5 (SD 18.4). Males were the largest group, accounting for 184 (64.6%). The median Injury Severity Score was 16. Using the Standardized Assessment of Concussion for concussion screening, 122 (42.8%) were diagnosed with concussions. Further testing with the Cognistat showed 54 patients (44.2%) had moderate to severe cognitive deficits. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that systematic screening of trauma patients helps identify underappreciated, subtle diagnoses, which can potentially cause long-term negative effects if not treated promptly.