Pediatric concussion affects millions and results in heterogeneous outcomes and recovery trajectories. Given favorable outcome for most children, it is useful to understand characteristics of positive outcome to promote full recovery in all children.

By JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(3):e251092. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.1092

Key Points

Question  How does optimal functioning evolve after pediatric concussion compared with orthopedic injury and what factors are associated with recovery?

Findings  In this cohort study of 967 children ages 8 to 16 years, including 633 children with concussion and 334 children with orthopedic injury, children with concussion had lower optimal functioning and females were less likely to show optimal functioning than males up to 6 months after injury.

Meaning  These findings suggest that attaining optimal functioning may take 3 months or more after pediatric concussion when multiple domains of outcome are taken into account, especially for girls.

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Citation

Beauchamp MH, Tang K, Ledoux A, et al. Optimal Recovery Following Pediatric Concussion. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(3):e251092. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.1092

SOURCE: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2831701?guestAccessKey=448996b7-b39e-4a4a-a63b-d1181f21355a&utm_source=for_the_media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=031925