An Evaluation of Post-Concussion Symptoms after Traumatic Brain Injury

Objectives: To examine self-reported post-concussion symptoms in patients with mild traumatic brain injury and to identify the prognostic predictors of these symptoms, if any.

Methods: An observational study of patients with mild head injury presenting to a zonal level hospital for features of post concussion syndrome. The ICD-10 criteria for using terminology and definition of post concussion syndrome were used.

Results: A total of 39 patients were studied over two years with varying symptomatology. Approx 36% patients were candidates of post concussion syndrome at end of 4 weeks with still smaller groups of 15.38% symptomatic at 3 months and 5.13% at end of 12 months respectively.

Conclusion: Post concussion syndrome is fairly frequent sequelae of traumatic head injury with headache and irritability being the commonest symptom complex seen. Patients need to be encouraged to report their symptomatology for adequate diagnosis and management. Patients presenting with clinical depression initially may be candidates of persistent post concussion syndrome later.