TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessment of patients with mild concussion in the emergency department
AU - Naunheim, Rosanne S.
AU - Matero, David
AU - Fucetola, Robert
PY - 2008/3
Y1 - 2008/3
N2 - OBJECTIVES: (1) to test the validity of the Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC) in characterizing the early evolution of concussion-related symptoms and mental status changes in the emergency department (ED) setting and (2) to compare it to the Conner's Continuous Performance Test 2nd Edition (CPT-II). DESIGN: Prospective within-subject (repeated measures) design. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-two persons with concussion (Glasgow Coma Scale = 15) and negative head computed tomographic scan results were examined on arrival in the ED and 3 and 6 hours later. SETTING: A large urban, tertiary medical center ED. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: SAC; CPT-II; Post-Concussion Symptom Scale-Revised (PCS-R). RESULTS: SAC and CPT-II scores improved significantly over the time course in the ED. Symptoms did not correlate with improvement, with many subjects complaining of headache or nausea after their scores improved. The average initial score on the SAC was 21 ± 5.4/30. Conclusion: The SAC appears sensitive to the acute changes following concussion. It may be a useful tool for clinicians in detecting mental status changes after a concussion, when Glasgow Coma Scale and radiologic findings are normal.
AB - OBJECTIVES: (1) to test the validity of the Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC) in characterizing the early evolution of concussion-related symptoms and mental status changes in the emergency department (ED) setting and (2) to compare it to the Conner's Continuous Performance Test 2nd Edition (CPT-II). DESIGN: Prospective within-subject (repeated measures) design. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-two persons with concussion (Glasgow Coma Scale = 15) and negative head computed tomographic scan results were examined on arrival in the ED and 3 and 6 hours later. SETTING: A large urban, tertiary medical center ED. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: SAC; CPT-II; Post-Concussion Symptom Scale-Revised (PCS-R). RESULTS: SAC and CPT-II scores improved significantly over the time course in the ED. Symptoms did not correlate with improvement, with many subjects complaining of headache or nausea after their scores improved. The average initial score on the SAC was 21 ± 5.4/30. Conclusion: The SAC appears sensitive to the acute changes following concussion. It may be a useful tool for clinicians in detecting mental status changes after a concussion, when Glasgow Coma Scale and radiologic findings are normal.
KW - Concussion
KW - Head injury
KW - Neurocognitive testing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=41149178261&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/01.HTR.0000314530.30401.70
DO - 10.1097/01.HTR.0000314530.30401.70
M3 - Article
C2 - 18362765
AN - SCOPUS:41149178261
SN - 0885-9701
VL - 23
SP - 116
EP - 122
JO - Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation
JF - Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation
IS - 2
ER -