Cortical thickness in pediatric mild traumatic brain injury including sports-related concussion

Publication date: Available online 21 July 2018Source: International Journal of PsychophysiologyAuthor(s): Erin D. Bigler, Chris Finuf, Tracy J. Abildskov, Naomi J. Goodrich-Hunsaker, Jo Ann Petrie, Dawn-Marie Wood, John R. Hesselink, Elisabeth A. Wilde, Jeffrey E. MaxAbstractThis investigation explored whether differences in cortical thickness could be detected in children who sustained a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) compared to those with orthopedic injury (OI) and whether cortical thickness related parental reporting of symptoms. To achieve this objective, FreeSurfer®-based cortical thickness measures were obtained in 330 children, 8 to 15 years of age, with either a history of mTBI or OI. Imaging was performed in all participants with the same 3 Tesla MRI scanner at six-months post-injury, where a parent-rated Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory (PCSI) was also obtained. Robust age-mediated reductions in cortical thickness were observed, but no consistent group-based differences between the mTBI and OI groups were observed. Also, the relation between mechanism of injury (i.e., sports-related, recreational, fall, motor vehicle accident or other) and cortical thickness was examined. Injuries associated with any type of abuse were excluded and children with OI could not have experienced a MVA. Mechanism of injury did not differentially relate to cortical thickness, although in the fall group, parental rating using the PCSI showed increased symptom reporting to be asso...
Source: International Journal of Psychophysiology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research