ED Tools

ACUTE CONCUSSION: Diagnosis and Management

Clinical Tools and Handouts for Concussion 

Resource 

Link 

ACRM Concussion Criteria 

https://pedsconcussion.com/diagnostic_criteria/ 

Physical Examination Handout 

https://pedsconcussion.com/pedsconcussion-physical-examination/ 

5P Risk Score Calculator  

https://www.5pconcussion.com/en/scorecalculator 

PECARN Management Algorithm 

https://pedsconcussion.com/pecarn-head/ 

The Canadian Assessment of Tomography for Childhood Injury 2 (CATCH2) 

https://pedsconcussion.com/tool-2-3-the-canadian-assessment-of-tomography-for-childhood-head-injury-2-catch2-rule/ 

PECARN Cervical Spine Injury Prediction Rule 

https://pedsconcussion.com/pecarn-neck/ 

Post-Concussion Information Sheet for Patients 

https://pedsconcussion.com/patient_information_sheet/ 

Return to School Protocol 

https://pedsconcussion.com/return-to-activity-sport-school/ 

Return-to-Activity/Sport Guidelines 

 

https://pedsconcussion.com/return-to-activity-sport-school/ 

Temporary academic accommodations 

https://pedsconcussion.com/classroom-interventions/ 

Special Considerations: Intimate Partner Violence Related Head and Neck Trauma 

https://pedsconcussion.com/special-considerations/ 

 

(download pdf coming soon)

References

  1. Reed N, Zemek R, Dawson J, Ledoux AAA, et al. Living Guideline for Pediatric Concussion [Internet]. 2025. Available from: www.pedsconcussion.com.

  2. Silverberg ND, Iverson GL, Cogan A, Dams-O-Connor K, Delmonico R, Graf MJP, et al. The American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine Diagnostic Criteria for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2023 Aug;104(8):1343–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2023.03.036

  3. Zemek R, Barrowman N, Freedman SB, Gravel J, Gagnon I, McGahern C, et al. Clinical risk score for persistent postconcussion symptoms among children with acute concussion in the ED. JAMA. 2016;315(10):1014–25. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2016.1203

  4. Ledoux AA, Sicard V, Bijelic V, Barrowman N, Van Ierssel J, Beer D, et al. Symptom Recovery in Children Aged 5 to 12 Years With Sport-Related and Non–Sport-Related Concussion. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Dec 4;7(12):e2448797.

  5. Ledoux AA, Barrowman N, Bijelić V, Borghese MM, Davis A, Reid S, et al. Is early activity resumption after paediatric concussion safe and does it reduce symptom burden at 2 weeks post injury? The Pediatric Concussion Assessment of Rest and Exertion (PedCARE) multicentre randomised clinical trial. Br J Sports Med. 2022 Mar;56(5):271–78. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2021-105030

  6. Leddy JJ, Haider MN, Ellis MJ, Mannix R, Darling SR, Freitas MS, et al. Early Subthreshold Aerobic Exercise for Sport-Related Concussion: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2019;173(4):319–25. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.4397

  7. JS P, KJ S, Dvorak J, OH A, Blauwet C, RC C, et al. Consensus statement on concussion in sport: The 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport-Amsterdam, October 2022. Br J Sports Med. 2023 Jun;57(11):695–711. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2023-106898

  8. Cairncross M, Yeates KO, Tang K, Madigan S, Beauchamp MH, Craig W, et al. Early Post-injury Screen Time and Concussion Recovery. Pediatrics. 2022;150(5):e2022056835. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2022-056835

  9. Vaughan CG, Ledoux AA, Sady MD, Tang K, Yeates KO, Sangha G, et al. Association Between Early Return to School Following Acute Concussion and Symptom Burden at 2 Weeks Postinjury. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(1):e2251839. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.51839

  10. Dawson J, Johnston S, McFarland S, Reed N, Zemek R. Returning to school following concussion: Pointers for family physicians from the Living Guideline for Pediatric Concussion Care. Can Fam Physician. 2023 Jun;69(6):382–6. https://doi.org/10.46747/cfp.6906382