Specialty-Specific Diagnoses in Pediatric Patients With Postconcussion Syndrome: Experience From a Multidisciplinary Concussion Clinic. Issue 2 (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shah, Ankoor S.; Raghuram, Aparna; Kaur, Karampreet; Lipson, Sophie; Shoshany, Talia; Stevens, Rebecca; O'Brien, Michael; Howell, David; Fleischman, Katie; Barnack, Danielle; Molind, Heather; Kuemmerle, Karameh Hawash; Brodsky, Jacob R.
• Is Part Of: Clinical journal of sport medicine. Volume 32:Issue 2(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: concussion -- postconcussion syndrome -- multidisciplinary -- accommodative dysfunction -- convergence insufficiency -- benign paroxysmal positional vertigo; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; 617.1027
• DOI: 10.1097/JSM.0000000000000891
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1050-642X

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To describe the collaborative findings across a broad array of subspecialties in children and adolescents with postconcussion syndrome (PCS) in a pediatric multidisciplinary concussion clinic (MDCC) setting. Design: Retrospective analysis. Setting: Multidisciplinary concussion clinic at a pediatric tertiary-level hospital. Patients: Fifty-seven patients seen in MDCC for evaluation and management of PCS between June 2014 and January 2016. Interventions: Clinical evaluation by neurology, sports medicine, otolaryngology, optometry, ophthalmology, physical therapy, and psychology. Main Outcome Measures: Specialty-specific clinical findings and specific, treatable diagnoses relevant to PCS symptoms. Results: A wide variety of treatable, specialty-specific diagnoses were identified as potential contributing factors to patients' postconcussion symptoms. The most common treatable diagnoses included binocular vision dysfunction (76%), anxiety, (57.7%), depression (44.2%), new or change in refractive error (21.7%), myofascial pain syndrome (19.2%), and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (17.5%). Conclusions: Patients seen in a MDCC setting receive a high number of treatable diagnoses that are potentially related to patients' PCS symptoms. The MDCC approach may (1) increase access to interventions for PCS-related impairments, such as visual rehabilitation, physical therapy, and psychological counseling; (2) provide patients with coordinated medical care across specialties; and (3) hasten recovery from PCS.