A study published in JAMA Network Open challenges the existing idea that early childhood concussion may have relatively benign effects and highlights that postconcussive symptoms can be relatively long-lasting.

A study published in Biological Psychiatry

found that concussions may alter the trajectory of white matter maturation in female children and that this alteration may play a role in the onset of new depression and anxiety after concussion. 

E-scooter injuries in children and adolescents are “becoming much more common and increasingly severe,” according to a 10-year study.

Ian K. Chun found that turf fields result in impact deceleration “as much as 23 g higher on artificial grass compared to natural surfaces.” The higher g forces may translate “to a theoretical increased risk of concussion due to contact with playing surfaces,” according to Chun.

A study found that very low and very high screen time predicted more severe postconcussion symptoms in the first 30 days post-injury. However, this association was no longer present once patients were more than 30 days out from their injury.

A study found a significant reduction in symptom relapse rates related to premature Return to Learn but not for Return to Play, indicating the need for more emphasis on implementing Return to Learn protocol.

A study found that “youth who experienced a concussion were more likely to develop mental health issues, self-harm, or psychiatric hospitalization than peers who had an orthopedic injury.” We include information and tips for parents.

A study found significant disparities in diagnosis and outcomes between children presenting to a pediatric hospital with assault-related (ARC) and sports-related concussion (SRC).

A study by Josh Shore et al. found that a novel Tele-Active Rehabilitation (Tele-AR) program improved postconcussion symptoms, illness perception, and occupational performance (self-perception of performance in everyday living) in a small group of adolescents.

A study found significant gaps in school-based concussion education in a scoping review, "including a lack of clear guidelines for concussion education content, questionable sustainability of the education delivery and the need for long-term evaluation of outcomes.”

A study found significant gaps in a high proportion of PA schools with regard to both state mandates and current best practices, though protocols were much higher quality in schools with a full-time athletic trainer (AT).

A study has found that for youth ages 10 to 18, “Resuming non-contact physical activity 72 hours after a concussion is safe, and may also reduce symptoms and the risk of delayed recovery,” according to a CHEO Research Institute press release.

A study found that children and adolescents who sustain a concussion are at an increased risk of developing mental health issues. The results indicated that "young people who sustain a concussion are at a 40% higher risk of mental health issues, psychiatric hospitalization, and self-harm compared to those who sustain an orthopedic injury."

PedsConcussion, a living guideline for concussion treatment and recovery for kids and teens, has updated its guidelines for returning to school. The guideline now states that students can return to school when cognitive activities do not make symptoms worse, even if symptoms are still present.

A study. found connections between pre-injury anxiety, post-injury anxiety, and persistent post-concussion symptoms. Dr. William Barr (NYU Langone Health) notably tweeted about the study, commenting: “assessment of anxiety is important among adolescents presenting for concussion care and delivery of evidence-supported treatments for anxiety are important considerations …”

A study by Ghazala T. Saleem et al. examined the efficacy of the Physical and Neurological Examination of Subtle Signs (PANESS) to identify subtle postural control deficits after concussion. They found that the thirty-second single-leg stance identified impaired postural control in children after concussion.

A study investigated whether concussion nondisclosure disparities existed by race, socioeconomic status (SES), or athletic training health care access before college. One of the study’s goals was to understand the differential reasons for concussion nondisclosure between White and Black collegiate athletes.

A study found that “students who sustained a concussion during the pandemic did not report increased academic concerns or reduced QOL [quality of life] compared to those whose injury was prior to the pandemic.”

PedsConcussion tweeted a flowchart and breakdown of their “Telemedicine and Virtual Care Algorithm.” This flowchart can be helpful for both patients and providers when considering whether or not to go for in-person care, which is particularly important considering the current increased incidence of COVID-19.

In a recent study, an analysis of acute symptom presentation among the three age groups (5–8, 9–12, and 13 to < 18) found that “signs and symptoms differed markedly across age groups, with vomiting decreasing and headache, LOC [loss of consciousness], amnesia, and disorientation increasing with increasing age."