Economic burden of adult mild traumatic brain injury in the United States: a scoping review of healthcare-related charges and costs

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) accounts for 80–90% of all traumatic brain injuries, yet its economic burden remains poorly characterized. We synthesized direct healthcare charges and costs associated with mTBI in the United States (U.S.). A PubMed search through October 14, 2025 identified primary studies reporting direct healthcare-related charges or costs among adults with mTBI. All estimates were standardized to 2025 U.S. dollars. Twenty-one studies (1996–2023) out of 3300 screened (0.64%) met inclusion criteria. Index hospitalization costs ranged from $3984 to $31,316 and remained stable over time, whereas national hospital charges increased from $26,021 (mean, standard deviation (SD) $1895) in 1996 to more than $172,080 in recent reports. First-year healthcare costs ranged from $16,898 to $29,045 in civilian populations and reached $182,094 (mean, SD $161,743) in military rehabilitation settings. These findings indicate mTBI imposes substantial costs beyond initial hospitalization and highlight growing financial pressures on trauma systems.