Heads Up to Clinicians: Updated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Guideline for Adults

It is important for clinicians to have the latest diagnosis and management guidelines within fast reach when assessing patients with a possible concussion.

CDC and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) convened an expert panel to develop an Updated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Management Guideline for Adults. This management guideline is based on ACEP’s 2008 Clinical Policy for adult mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), which revises the previous 2002 Clinical Policy. The policy focuses on identifying neurologically intact patients who have potentially significant intracranial injuries, and identifying patients with risk for prolonged postconcussive symptoms to ensure proper discharge planning.

The guideline gives clinicians easy access to the essentials of the most recently revised clinical policy when they need it fast. This is especially important for clinicians working in acute care settings such as emergency departments. Clinicians can also access guidelines at their fingertips by using the accompanying pocket card, which includes talking points to use with patients.

Both CDC and ACEP have developed a discharge instruction sheet and wallet card for patients. These materials help patients and caregivers to understand the facts about concussion, information on what to expect and postconcussive symptoms, when to return to the emergency department and also include a customizable section for physician instructions.