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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Samuel N. Forjuoh, MB, ChB, DrPH, Scott & White Memorial Hospital, Dept of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, 1402 West Avenue H, Temple, TX 76504, 254-771-7695, sforjuoh@swmail.sw.org
OBJECTIVE: To determine correlates of grade 2+ concussion among high school football athletes.
METHODS: A 3-year prospective study was conducted in 32 central Texas high schools, including three 5A and eleven 2A schools. Physicians acting as team doctors completed an Internet-based incident card on all athletes who sustained a concussion on the field of play. The incident card obtained information on athlete demographic data, school size, play position, game quarter of injury, symptoms observed, and treatment provided. Severity of concussion was graded using the current criteria recommended by the Sports Medicine Committee. All physicians were trained to apply the same criteria.
RESULTS: Over the 3-year period, 70 cases of concussion were observed. The majority was classified as grade 2 (52.9%), 45.7% as grade 1, and one case as grade 3. Concussion occurred mostly during the 2nd (41.4%) and 4th (28.6%) quarters of games. In two cases, an obvious problem was found with the helmet worn. While half of the injured athletes required only field assessment as treatment, more than a third required 24-hour follow-up, and 14% required referral to the emergency department. After controlling for grade, weight, play position, and school size, playing during the 4th quarter was the only significant correlate of serious concussion. Compared to playing during the 1st quarter, the risk of concussion during the 4th quarter was 9.2 (95% CI=1.2-70.2).
CONCLUSIONS: Although the risk of concussion was found to be higher towards the end of each half of a football game, playing during the 4th quarter presented the highest risk independent of school size, athlete grade, athlete weight, or play position.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.