RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Concussion diagnosis: the king-devick test in the canadian football league
JF British Journal of Sports Medicine
JO Br J Sports Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
SP A80
OP A80
DO 10.1136/bjsports-2016-097270.207
VO 51
IS 11
A1 Dhiren J Naidu
A1 Martin Mrazik
YR 2017
UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/51/11/A80.2.abstract
AB Objective To conduct a sensitivity analysis of the King-Devick (K-D) test in professional football.Design Prospective cohort.Setting Professional football.Participants: 269 professional football players from the Canadian Football League (CFL). There were 24 concussions to analyse.Intervention The K-D test was added to the existing CFL concussion protocol (medical and SCAT3). All participants completed K-D assessments at baseline, at the time of injury/concussion (TOI), and at medical clearance prior to return to play (RTP). 20 controls were re-tested post-baseline.Outcome measures K-D scores were analysed to construct a sensitivity analysis.Main results TOI K-D results were significantly higher (mean=50.21, range: 35.4–107.4) than baseline K-D results (mean=44.3, range 28.4–66.4; p<0.01). TOI K-D results yielded 94% sensitivity and 80% specificity for diagnosing concussions. Four groups emerged from the TOI data. In Group 1, 4/4 were asymptomatic within 24 hours and scores were better (lower) than baseline; Group 2 were asymptomatic within 72 hours and 8/9 had abnormal (poorer) scores; Group 3 were asymptomatic within 11 days and 5/5 had abnormal scores. Group 4 were symptomatic by season’s end and 4/4 had abnormal scores. 18/18 players who RTP had better K-D scores than baseline prior to RTP.Conclusions The K-D test proved to be useful for concussion diagnosis. Interestingly, the players in Group 1 had normal TOI K-D scores and were asymptomatic in <24 hours. More research is needed and the CFL will continue this next season.Competing interests None.