Utility of Structured Oculomotor, Balance, and Exercise Testing in Civilian Adults With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.
Andrew DeGroot, Mary U Simons, Daniel L Huber and 4 others
PMID 38206608WHAT IT FOUND
Eye tracking and exercise tests found physical deficits in most adults with mild brain injury, even when patients reported few symptoms.
These objective measures reveal problems that questionnaires miss, suggesting clinicians should not rely on patient reports alone to guide treatment.
Key findings
01Impairment rates were high across tests, with near point accommodation issues affecting up to 58.8% of participants at one week.
02Objective eye tracking deficits correlated with physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms but not with reported visual symptoms.
03Impairment profiles were highly heterogeneous, with 17 distinct combinations of deficits observed in just 33 people.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small (36 participants), limiting the ability to generalize findings to all adults with mTBI. The study was not designed to test whether treating these specific deficits improves outcomes, only that the deficits exist. Normative data for the balance and eye tests were limited or locally derived, which may affect how strictly 'impairment' is defined. The study population was specific to level 1 trauma center patients, who may have different injury mechanisms or demographics than other mTBI groups.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest for the work itself. Dr. Leddy, a co-author, received compensation from Neuronasal and Quadrant Biosciences and held stock options in Highmark Innovations and 360 Concussion Care, companies involved in concussion care.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that a patient's self-reported symptoms accurately reflect their physical deficits. The study found that objective eye tracking tests revealed impairments that correlated with cognitive and physical symptoms, even when the patient did not report visual problems. Relying only on patient questionnaires may miss treatable physiological dysfunction.