Objectives: Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) and subsequent outcomes such as postconcussive syndrome (PCS) have been identified as substantial injury problems. The purpose of this study is to determine the characteristics of and subsequent outcomes in adult emergency department (ED) patients presenting with MTBI. Such information is crucial for developing effective and efficient intervention strategies to address these problems. Hypotheses: The majority of adult patients diagnosed with MTBI in the ED will have PCS at 3 months postinjury. Participants: Subjects are patients aged 18 years with a minor injury; all subjects were treated and released from the ED. Subjects meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) MTBI criteria. Methods: Data are collected from a baseline questionnaire administered in the ED and at phone follow-up at 1, 3, and 12 months. Clinical data are abstracted from the medical record. The Rivermead Postconcussion Symptoms Questionnaire was used to identify PCS. SF-36 subscale scores for Physical Functioning and Mental Health were measured. Simple descriptive statistics were calculated. The study is ongoing. Results: One hundred forty-five MTBI patients have completed baseline and 1- and 3-month follow-up. Mean age: 40.9 years; females: 62.8%. At 1 month 55.9% had PCS and 52.4% at 3 months. Mean number of symptoms at 1 month was 4.8 and 4.7 at 3 months. Among PCS subjects, the age group with the highest incidence of PCS is 18-34 (57.9%). The SF-36 scores for mental health at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months are 48.1, 46.5, and 46.3. Conclusion: These data show that the majority of adult ED patients diagnosed with MTBI will have PCS at 1 and 3 months postinjury. On average, Mental Health, as measured by the SF-36, had still not returned to baseline at 3 months postinjury. These findings suggest that MTBI among patients treated and released from the ED is a substantial health burden.

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