Brain Injury Study: Longer Recovery Time for Children with Previous Concussions

A new study has revealed that children and young adults have a longer recovery time from a concussion if they have previously sustained another concussion or repeated blows to the head. The study indicates that a previous hit that occurred within one year can increase the necessary recovery time for these individuals.

About the Study

The study was conducted by Boston Children's Hospitals. While doctors had previously believed that it was detrimental for children to suffer multiple blows to the head, the study is the first of its kind to affirmatively find this connection. It is also the first study to set a recovery time frame. The study analyzed children and young adults between the ages of 11 and 22 who were brought into an emergency room with a second or subsequent concussion. The study was published in the Pediatrics journal.

Findings of the Study

Patients who had sustained a concussion within a year or who had suffered multiple blows to the head over their lifetime were found to need more time to recover from the injury, compared to individuals who sustained their first concussion. However, patients who had a concussion more than a year previously did not have an increased recovery time. The amount of time that patients needed to recover from subsequent concussions was greater than doctors had previously thought.

• Patients who sustained their first concussion needed about 12 days to recover
• Individuals who had sustained multiple concussion took about 28 days to recover
• Patients who had sustained a second concussion within a year's time took about 35 days to recover

The study found that approximately 60 percent of the patients had been injured due to sports.

Implications of the Study

Due to the increased recovery time, coaches and parents may want to consider leaving their kids on the sidelines after an injury. Doctors are still uncertain about how concussions can affect the developing brain of a child. However, research indicates that repeated blows can result in permanent brain damage, a condition similar to Alzheimer's, and an increased risk of suicide in adult patients.

If you have sustained a brain injury that was caused by another, a Tampa brain injury attorney may be able to help.

Call Abrahamson & Uiterwyk at 1-800-538-4878 for a free initial consultation and case evaluation.