Multidisciplinary care in concussion management

BACKGROUND: About 30% of people who experience a concussion have longer-lasting symptoms and complex care requirements. The new Australian and New Zealand clinical practice guidelines for the management of concussion, mild traumatic brain injury and persisting concussion symptoms provide guidance for their management, which often requires the involvement of multiple disciplines in a collaborative approach - the multidisciplinary concussion team. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to review the characteristics of people with concussion who may need multidisciplinary concussion care and current service models. DISCUSSION: Across Australia, publicly funded concussion services are few, and models of care vary depending on funding time and availability of expertise. Given their knowledge of the patient's premorbid and social background, the general practitioner often plays a large part in diagnosis, referral and care coordination, especially in complex cases such as those with repeated concussions, vestibular or cervical dysfunction, severe pain and/or psychological concerns.