Standardized assessment of concussion (SAC): on-site mental status evaluation of the athlete

J Head Trauma Rehabil. 1998 Apr;13(2):27-35. doi: 10.1097/00001199-199804000-00005.

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated the clinical utility of the Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC) in detecting concussion in athletes.

Method: Athletic trainers administered the SAC to 568 nonconcussed high school and college football players prior to the 1995 and 1996 football seasons. Thirty-three of these players experienced concussion and were tested immediately following injury; 28 of the 33 underwent additional follow-up testing 48 hours after the injury.

Results: Concussed players scored significantly below nonconcussed controls on all SAC measures and significantly below their own pre-injury baseline performance. Follow-up testing documented return to preinjury baseline.

Conclusion: These findings support the SAC's effectiveness in detecting concussion and tracking recovery in order to determine a player's fitness to return to play.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Athletic Injuries / diagnosis*
  • Brain Concussion / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests*
  • Reproducibility of Results