• Erik Hessen, Vicki Anderson, and Knut Nestvold.
• Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. erik.hessen@nevropsykologi.no
• Brain Inj. 2008 Jan 1;22(1):39-50.

Primary ObjectiveResearch suggest that post-concussive syndrome after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is more common than chronic cognitive impairment. The aim of this study was to investigate very long-term outcome of subjective complaints after paediatric mTBI.Research DesignThe study was a follow-up 23 years after a prospective head injury study at a general hospital in Norway.Methods And ProceduresForty-one patients were assessed with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) 23 years after sustaining mTBI as children.Main Outcomes And ResultsA good overall outcome was found with scores close to the normative mean, average length of education and normal employment rate. However, the children that sustained complicated mTBI showed slightly more pathological scores, typical for mild post-concussive syndrome. The most important predictors of poor outcome were skull fracture and a combination of post-traumatic amnesia > 30 minutes and EEG pathology within 24 hours after TBI. No influence of pre- and post-injury risk factors on current MMPI-2 profiles was evident.ConclusionsThe results give support for the notion of potentially differential impact of uncomplicated vs complicated mTBI. The findings suggest that children and adolescents sustaining complicated mTBI may be at risk of developing subtle chronic symptoms typical of post-concussive syndrome.

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