• Nicola J Starkey, Kelly Jones, Rosalind Case, Alice Theadom, Suzanne Barker-Collo, and Valery Feigin.
• a School of Psychology , University of Waikato , Hamilton , New Zealand.
• Brain Inj. 2018 Jan 1; 32 (5): 617-626.

ObjectiveMild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is common injury during childhood and adolescence but the long-term outcomes are poorly understood. This study examined post-concussive symptoms and behavioural outcomes in children and adolescents up to 24 months post-mTBI.MethodParents of children aged 8-15 years with mTBI completed the BASC-2 and Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire at baseline, 1-, 6-, 12- and 24 months post-injury. An age-matched traumatic brain injury-free cohort was recruited and assessed at 12- and 24 months.ResultsPCSs decreased significantly over the first 12 months post-injury. At 12- and 24 months post-injury, the mTBI group reported more PCSs and behavioural symptoms compared to controls. Parents of children with mTBI were more likely to report ≥4 problematic PCS symptoms (28% at both time points) compared to controls (7.7% and 1.7% at 12 and 24 months, respectively). The mTBI group was 4.63 times more likely to have four or more ongoing PCS symptoms at 12 months post-injury compared to controls. Headache was the most common acute post-injury symptom (55%), while the most commonly reported persistent symptoms were irritability, frustration, forgetfulness and fatigue.ConclusionsPCSs are common 2 years post-mTBI in childhood or adolescence. Given this, additional intervention and support is needed for families post-injury.

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