Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential cumulative impact of mild traumatic brain
injury (MTBI) on postconcussive symptoms. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 224 active
duty soldiers reporting MTBI within 1 year of testing. For 101, this MTBI was
their only reported traumatic brain injury (TBI); 123 had sustained at least 1
additional MTBI during their lifetime. A No TBI control group (n = 224) was
included for comparison. MAIN MEASURE: Self-report symptoms data via
questionnaire. Within time since injury subgroups (</=3 months; Post-3 months),
symptom endorsement (no symptoms, 1 or 2 symptoms, 3+ symptoms) among soldiers
with 1 MTBI was compared with that of soldiers with 2 or more MTBIs. Injured
soldiers' symptom endorsement was compared with that of soldiers who had not
sustained a TBI. RESULTS: Among the recently injured (</=3 months), those with 2
or more MTBIs endorsed significantly more symptoms than those with 1 MTBI: 67% of
soldiers with 2 or more MTBIs reported 3+ symptoms, versus 29% of One MTBI
soldiers. Among Post-3 month soldiers, there were no significant differences
between MTBI groups. Overall, soldiers with MTBI endorsed significantly more
symptoms than those without TBI. CONCLUSION: Past experience of MTBI may be a
risk factor for increased symptom difficulty for several months postinjury.
Clinicians should ascertain lifetime history of brain injury when evaluating
patients for MTBI.

Langue : ANGLAIS