The majority of people who suffer mild traumatic brain injury recover within three months. However, up to 10 to 15 percent of people who suffer mild traumatic brain injury continue to have symptoms three months later. Research has shown that early diagnosis and management of mild traumatic brain injury greatly improves a patient’s outcome and reduces the impact of persistent symptoms.
Unfortunately, until now there have been no standardized guidelines that doctors or healthcare providers in Ontario could use to identify mild traumatic brain injuries early on or to treat individuals who suffer persistent symptoms following mild TBI. To respond to this concern, the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation appointed a team of medical experts, doctors, healthcare providers, and mild traumatic brain injury survivors from across Ontario, Canada and outside the country. The team reviewed and vetted relevant clinical guidelines published in the last 10 years, and consolidated this information into one standardized guideline. The results of this process are the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation’s Guidelines for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Persistent Symptoms.
These guidelines will improve patient care by providing healthcare professionals with uniform, evidence based, best practice recommendations to effectively identify and treat individuals who suffer persistent symptoms following mild TBI. As part of Brain Injury Awareness Week, McLeish Orlando commends the work of the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation and the project members who contributed to these guidelines in order to improve the care and quality of life for individuals living with the potentially devastating effects of mild traumatic brain injury.
Click here to read a brief summary of the guidelines for assessment and management in each of the 13 areas listed in the guidelines.