Mild traumatic brain injury: neurosensory effects

Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to examine recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of mild traumatic brain injury with attention to the neurosensory sequelae. Recent findings There has been a great deal of work done in this area over the last 18 months. Much of the work focuses on diagnosing the disorder. The neurosensory sequelae can be difficult to diagnose with headache relying on subjective information and cognitive effects and fatigue being very difficult to accurately measure. Dizziness is a very common disorder and probably the easiest effect to measure objectively and evidence is mounting that diagnosing and treating dizziness is very important in this patient group. Advances in treatment have occurred in the last 18 months but there is still a great deal of work necessary in this area. There is one reported pharmaceutical countermeasure and it is vital that this medicine be further tested and developed. Therapies remain the mainstay of treatment and work in this area needs to be supported. Summary It is clear from this review that mild traumatic brain injury is a rapidly growing public health issue and it vital for those who see these patients to be well versed in the neurosensory manifestations so that appropriate diagnosis and treatment are provided and accurate prognostic implications can be provided for patients and their families.