Highlighting the differences in post-traumatic symptoms between patients with complicated and uncomplicated mild traumatic brain injury and injured controls.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of the current study is to explore the difference in acute post-concussive symptoms (PCS), headaches, sleep and mood complaints between groups of patients with complicated and uncomplicated mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) and a comparable group of injured controls. Interactions among the following four factors were studied: presence of (1) PCS; (2) headaches; (3) sleep disorders; and (4) psychological status.

METHODS

A total of 198 patients, followed at the outpatient mTBI clinic of the MUHC-MGH, completed questionnaires and a brief neurological assessment two weeks post-trauma.

RESULTS

Whether they had a TBI or not, all patients presented PCS, headaches, sleep and mood complaints. No significant differences between groups in terms of reported symptoms were found. Variables such as depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as sleep difficulties and headaches were found to correlate with PCS. The high rate of PCS in trauma patients was observed independently of traumatic brain injury status. This study has also shown that patients with complicated mTBI were more likely to have vestibular impairment after their injury.

CONCLUSION

The vestibular function should be assessed systematically after a complicated mTBI. Furthermore, the mTBI diagnosis should be based on operational criteria, and not on reported symptoms.