J Korean Soc Traumatol.  2017 Jun;30(2):41-46. 10.20408/jti.2017.30.2.41.

Frequency of Post-Concussion Syndrome in Korean Patients with Minor Head Injury

• Lee JY
• Yoon YH
• Lewis RJ
• Tolles J

• KMID: 2392706
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.20408/jti.2017.30.2.41

Abstract

PURPOSE
To determine the incidence of post-concussion syndrome (PCS) in Korean patients after minor traumatic brain injury.
METHODS
We conducted an observational cohort study of a convenience sample of patients presenting to the emergency department of a major academic Korean hospital. Patients who visited the Emergency Department for head trauma were screened. A researcher questioned the subject regarding his or her symptoms. Subjects were contacted by phone approximately 2 weeks after their Emergency Department visit and questioned about subsequent symptoms and subsequent visits for medical care.
RESULTS
Only 8% of subjects reported any post-concussion symptoms. Only 0.4% had three or more symptoms which might have met criteria for PCS. The median peak onset of symptoms was 3 days after injury.
CONCLUSION
The incidence of PCS is Korean patients is much lower than that documented for patients in the United States or other western countries. On the other hand, this study results could give an idea that mild trauma could also cause the PCS. Further study is needed to replicate this finding and investigate possible explanations for this difference.

Keyword

Brain injuries; Traumatic; Post-concussion syndrome

MeSH Terms

Brain Injuries
Cohort Studies
Craniocerebral Trauma*
Emergency Service, Hospital
Hand
Humans
Incidence
Post-Concussion Syndrome*
United States