A summary of the first Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Clinical Practice Guideline for the management of mild traumatic brain injury/concussion and persisting post-concussion symptoms

Karen M Barlow; Sheryl SY Lim; Elizabeth Haines; Gill Cowen; Jennie Ponsford; Alice Theadom; Julia Treleaven; Gavin Davis; Vicki Anderson; Franz Babl; David Cole; Jennifer Cullen; Stuart Dalziel; Melinda Fitzgerald; Howard Flavell; Caroline Yates; Rebecca Kimble; John Olver; Rhonda Orr; Mark Ralfe; Michael Rose; Nick Rushworth; Gary Browne; Gary Mitchell; Sean Tweedy

doi:10.31128/AJGP-08-25-7801

A summary of the first Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Clinical Practice Guideline for the management of mild traumatic brain injury/concussion and persisting post-concussion symptoms

Aust J Gen Pract. 2026 Jan-Feb;55(1-2):29-35. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-08-25-7801.

Authors

Karen M Barlow¹, Sheryl SY Lim², Elizabeth Haines³, Gill Cowen⁴, Jennie Ponsford⁵, Alice Theadom⁶, Julia Treleaven⁷, Gavin Davis⁸, Vicki Anderson⁹, Franz Babl¹⁰, David Cole¹¹, Jennifer Cullen¹², Stuart Dalziel¹³, Melinda Fitzgerald¹⁴, Howard Flavell¹⁵, Caroline Yates¹⁶, Rebecca Kimble¹⁷, John Olver¹⁸, Rhonda Orr¹⁹, Mark Ralfe²⁰, Michael Rose²¹, Nick Rushworth²², Gary Browne²³, Gary Mitchell²⁴, Sean Tweedy²⁵

Affiliations

¹ MBChB, MSc, PhD, FRACP, Professor of Paediatric Neurology, Child Health Research Centre), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld; Rehabilitation Specialist, Queensland Children@s Hospital, Brisbane, Qld.
² BBiomedSc, MPIP, Senior Research Assistant, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld.
³ MBChB, BSc, PhD, Research Fellow, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld.
⁴ MBBS, Senior Lecturer, Curtin Medical@School, Curtin University, Perth, WA; Senior Research@Fellow, Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin@University, Perth, WA; Senior Clinical Research Fellow,@Curtin Medical Research Institute, Curtin University,@Perth, WA.
⁵ AO, BA (Hons), MA (Clin Neuro), PhD, FCCN, MAPS, Professor of Neuropsychology, Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic.
⁶ PhD, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of technology, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand.
⁷ PhD, BPhty, Clinical Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld.
⁸ MBBS, FRACS, Neurosurgeon, Murdoch Children@s Research Institute, Melbourne, Vic; Neurosurgeon, Cabrini Health, Melbourne, Vic; Neurosurgeon, Austin Health, Melbourne, Vic;@ Adjunct Clinical Professor, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic; Adjunct Professor, University of Notre Dame, Melbourne, Vic.
⁹ PhD, Director, Clinical Sciences,@Murdoch Children@s Research Institute, Melbourne,@Vic; Adjunct Professor, Monash University, School of@Psychological Sciences, Melbourne, Vic; Honorary@Psychologist, Psychology Service, The Royal Children@s@Hospital, Melbourne, Vic.
¹⁰ MD, MPH, DMedSc, FRACP, FAAP, FACEP, Paediatric Emergency Physician, Murdoch Children@s Research Institute, Melbourne, Vic; Professor of Paediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic; Paediatric Emergency Physician, Royal Children@s Hospital, Melbourne, Vic.
¹¹ Consumer Advocate, Brisbane, Qld.
¹² AM, CEO, Synapse, Brisbane, Qld; Adjunct Associate Professor, Menzies Health Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Qld.
¹³ MD, PhD, Paediatric Emergency Physician, Starship Hospital, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand; Professor of Paediatrics and Emergency Medicine, School of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand.
¹⁴ PhD, John Curtin Distinguished Professor, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA; Professor of Neurotrauma, Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA; Chief Executive Officer, Connectivity Traumatic Brain Injury Australia, Perth, WA.
¹⁵ MD, FRACRM, Rehabilitation Medicine Physician, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, NT.
¹⁶ MBChB, FRACGP, General Practitioner, Brisbane South Health Pathways, Brisbane, Qld; Rural Specialist, Royal Flying Doctor Service, Brisbane, Qld @.
¹⁷ MBBS, FRANZCOG, MAICD, Director, Queensland Clinical Guidelines, Clinical Excellence Queensland, Brisbane, Qld; Professor of Obstetrics @ Gynaecology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld.
¹⁸ AM, MBBS, MD (Melb), FAFRM (RACP), Rehabilitation Physician, Epworth Healthcare, Melbourne, Vic; Emeritus Professor, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic.
¹⁹ PhD, Associate Professor, Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW; Honorary Associate, Sydney Children@s Hospitals Network, Children@s Hospital Institute of Sports Medicine, Children@s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney,@NSW.
²⁰ MBChB (Otago), DRANZCOG, DCH, FRACGP, MMed, General Practitioner/Sports Medicine Doctor, Wakefield Sports and Exercise Clinic, Adelaide, SA.
²¹ MD, FRACP, Consultant Physician and Geriatrician, Cabrini Health, Melbourne, Vic.
²² Executive Officer, Brain Injury Australia, Sydney, NSW.
²³ MD, MBBS, MSpMed, FRACP, FACEM, FAAP, Staff Specialist, Sydney Children@s Hospitals Network, Children@s Hospital Institute of Sports Medicine, Children@s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW; Professor of Paediatrics and Emergency, Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW.
²⁴ MBBaO, FACEM, Emergency Physician, Royal Brisbane and Women@s Hospital, Brisbane, Qld; Senior Lecturer, Royal Brisbane Clinical Unit, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld.
²⁵ PhD, AES, AEP, Professor of Sports and Exercise Science, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld.

PMID: 41655284
DOI: 10.31128/AJGP-08-25-7801

Abstract

Background: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and concussion are important healthcare issues, with ongoing and persisting symptoms significantly affecting a person's quality of life. Management is often challenging.

Objective: Using a case study example, this article outlines key updates and practical guidance for assessment and management of mTBI/concussion, informed by the newly developed Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand (ANZ) mTBI and concussion clinical practice guideline.

Discussion: The 'Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Clinical Practice Guideline for the management of mild traumatic brain injury/concussion and persisting post-concussion symptoms in adults and children' is the first guideline to address the full scope of mTBI/concussion management across diverse ANZ populations. It provides general practitioners and other clinicians with practical, evidence-based recommendations for assessing and managing mTBI and persisting symptoms across all ages. Developed through multidisciplinary and consumer collaboration, it aims to promote consistent, high-quality care and reduce practice variation across healthcare settings.

MeSH terms

Adult
Australia
Brain Concussion* / complications
Brain Concussion* / diagnosis
Brain Concussion* / therapy
Humans
New Zealand
Post-Concussion Syndrome* / diagnosis
Post-Concussion Syndrome* / therapy
Practice Guidelines as Topic