Catching the snitch or the consequences? Profiling incidence of concussions in Quidditch players

Background Concussions are caused by a blow to or a violent shaking of the head or body. With increasing popularity of novel sports, such as Quidditch inspired by the Harry Potter series, it is suspected that players are commonly misdiagnosed or not seeking treatment after suffering a concussion. Here, we look at the incidence of concussion in Quidditch players. Materials/methods After obtaining IRB approval we conducted an anonymous cross-sectional survey amongst players in the Major League Quidditch for the 2017 season. The survey included questions corresponding to demographics, previous medical history specific to concussions, migraines, co-morbidities, and suspected concussions whilst engaging in Quidditch. Results Four hundred sixty-four players were contacted via email with 34% response rate. Of 34%, 96.2% previously engaged in sports either high school or collegiate level. Twenty-six percent of males and 29% of females reported having previously medically diagnosed concussions outside of Quidditch. Fifteen percent reported never hitting their head during a Quidditch match while 19% indicated more than 10 total head injuries. Twenty-five percent of players reported a medically confirmed concussion during play, with 20% indicating a suspected concussion without medical evaluation. Thirty-four percent reported a history of depression or anxiety with 21 players reporting a history of migraines. Those with confirmed head injuries or suspected concussion, 39% indicated that they sought medical treatment while 24% responded that they did not. Conclusion Majority of Quidditch players reported having suffered a concussion prior to playing while half reported suffering a confirmed or suspected concussion during a game. Players were divided on seeking treatment. It is well documented that history of migraines or other comorbidities combined with multiple concussions leads to longer recovery times as well as higher rates of post-concussive syndrome. With the growing rate of traumatic brain injuries, it is imperative that players are diagnosed and treated to prevent future consequences.