The effects of multiple mild traumatic brain injuries on acute injury presentation and neuropsychological recovery in children.

Abstract

Although research focused on mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has proliferated in recent years, few studies have examined the significance of a previous history of mTBI in children. To compare the acute injury presentation and neuropsychological recovery in a pediatric sample after mTBI. Participants 8 to 16 years of age were divided into 4 groups: no previous injury history, history of 1 mTBI, history of 2 mTBIs, and history of ≥ 3 mTBIs. Participants were evaluated within 3 months of the most recent injury by clinical interview and an abbreviated neuropsychological test battery. After the index mTBI, the groups did not differ in their likelihood to display a loss of consciousness, nor did they differ on neuropsychological test performance. Overall, contrary to our hypotheses, we found no demonstrable difference between those children with a self-reported mTBI history and those without after an index mTBI.