Comparison and utility of King-Devick and ImPACT® composite scores in adolescent concussion patients

The King-Devick (KD) oculomotor test has recently been advocated for sideline diagnosis of concussion. Although visual processing and performance are often impaired in concussion patients, the utility of KD as a concussion diagnostic tool is not validated. PURPOSE: To examine the diagnostic value of KD, by comparing KD with post-concussion symptom scale (PCSS) and ImPACT® composite scores. We hypothesized that KD would be correlated with visual motor speed/memory (VMS, VIS) and reaction time (RT), because all require cognitive visual processing. We also expected parallel changes in KD and PCSS across recovery. METHODS: Thirty-five concussed individuals (12-19y; 18 females, 17 males) were evaluated with PCSS, ImPACT® composite and KD scores over four clinical visits (V). RESULTS: KD times improved with each visit (ΔV1-V2: 7.86±11.82; ΔV2-V3: 9.17±11.07; ΔV3-V4: 5.30±7.87s) and paralleled improvements in PCSS (ΔV1-V2: 8.97±20.27; ΔV2-V3: 8.69±14.70; ΔV3-V4: 6.31±7.71), RT (ΔV1-V2: 0.05±0.21; ΔV2-V3: 0.09±0.19; ΔV3-V4 0.03±0.07) and VMS (ΔV1-V2: -5.27±6.98; ΔV2-V3: -2.61±6.48; ΔV3-V4: -2.35±5.22). Longer KD times were associated with slower RT (r=0.67; P Language: en