Combining Multiple Modalities Best in Evaluation of Concussions

Newswise — ATLANTA, Ga. – Princeton's Margot Putukian, MD presented “Prospective Clinical Assessment (SCAT2), Hybrid Neuropsychological Testing and Neuroimaging in the Evaluation of Sports-Related Concussions” at the 21st American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Ga. on April 24, 2012.

The study showed that the SCAT2, in combination with computerized and paper and pen neuropsychological testing and in some cases, functional MRI gave the most accurate evaluations of the concussed athlete.

“This study is the first to show that the SCAT2 is a useful sideline tool,” stated Dr. Putukian. “Our evidence supports multimodal testing of concussed patients by using the SCAT2 in conjunction with hybrid neuropsychological testing and advanced neuroimaging.”

The conference featured lectures and research addressing the most challenging topics in sports medicine today including prevention of sudden death, cardiovascular issues in athletes, concussion, biologic therapies, and other controversies facing the field of sports medicine.

More than 1,200 sports medicine physicians from across the United States and 12 countries around the world attended the meeting. Dr. Putukian is director of Athletic Medicine and Head Team Physician of Princeton University in Princeton NJ. She was awarded the NCAA Award for best research addressing healthy and safety issues of college athletes at the AMSSM conference.

The AMSSM is a multi-disciplinary organization of sports medicine physicians whose members are dedicated to education, research, advocacy, and the care of athletes of all ages. Founded in 1991, the AMSSM is now comprised of more than 2,000 sports medicine physicians whose goal is to provide a link between the rapidly expanding core of knowledge related to sports medicine and its application to patients in a clinical setting.