Mild traumatic brain injury - Knowledge update in preparation for the revision of the ministerial orientations for mild traumatic brain injury (2005-2010)

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is the mildest subcategory of the large family of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). It is the most common type of TBI in adults and children and generates a large number of medical and hospital visits.  To structure the organization of services and support the implementation of services offered to victims of mTBI, the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) published, in 2005, ministerial orientations concerning mTBIs. As these orientations date back more than 10 years, the MSSS asked the Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS) to shed some scientific light on mTBI to guide the work of the committee that will be in charge of updating the ministerial orientations.

This knowledge update presents an analysis of the literature and of the trends identified in different guidance documents.  It examines the main components of the scientific and clinical framework of the ministerial orientations, namely, the definition of mTBI, the screening criteria, the diagnostic criteria, the criteria for assessing the risk of severe complications, the criteria for assessing the risk of developing functional complications, and the main principles guiding its clinical management.