Demographic evaluation of Post-Concussion Syndrome in referrals to Bandar Abbas Forensic Medical Center, South of Iran from March 2020 to August 2021

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the present study is the demographicassessment of PCS in referrals to forensic medical centersin Bandar Abbas. Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive study was performed on 72 patients with mild brain trauma who were referred to Bandar Abbas forensic medical center. PCS was confirmed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria. Information on age, sex, mechanism of trauma, the time interval between the first visit to the forensic medical center, level of consciousness, number of hospitals stays days, number of days in ICU, and symptoms at initial referral were recorded in the designed form. Results: The mean age of patients was 30.81 ± 13.39 years. There was a significant difference in sex and mechanisms of trauma (P < 0.001).  The average time interval of the first referral to forensic medical center was 9.44 ± 18.37 days.87.5% were hospitalized and only 9.7% were hospitalized at ICU. The consciousness level of all patients was in the range of 12 to 15 (mild range).Among symptoms, headache (87.5%) and dizziness (81.9%) were the most significant prevalent symptoms. 70.8% of patients had no symptoms one month after the accident but 12.5% still had symptoms and only 9.7% still had symptoms of concussion after3 months. Conclusion: According to the results, PCS mostly happened in the male gender and the main mechanism of trauma was an accident. Headache and dizziness were the main symptoms. Only a small percentage of patients have symptoms after one month and three months, post-injury.