Validation of the Military Acute Concussion Evaluation (MACE) for In- Theater Evaluation of Combat-Related Traumatic Brain Injury

摘要

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been widely considered the 'signature injury' among United States military personnel involved in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Military Acute Concussion Evaluation (MACE) was designed by DVBIC and civilian brain injury experts to assess the mechanism of injury, acute characteristics and cognitive deficits in military personnel with suspected MTBI in an austere environment. PURPOSE AND SCOPE: This study investigates the clinical and operational utility of the MACE in military operational settings. Through a systematic, retrospective review of MACE data, the specific aims of this study are: Epidemiological: To advance our understanding of the acute injury characteristics of MTBI in the current military operational setting (e.g., mechanisms of injury, influence of personal protective equipment (PPE), clinical indicators, severity range). Clinical: To determine the clinical utility of the MACE in assessing the acute signs and symptoms of MTBI, measuring the acute cognitive effects, and objectively tracking recovery; To assess the unique contribution of the MACE in clinical decision-making and modulating risk around fitness to return to duty after MTBI. PROGRESS: All data abstraction was completed for this retrospective data. All data has been entered into an electronic database. Statistical analysis is currently in process. No formal results or conclusions are available at the time of this abstract submission. We anticipate completion of data analysis and reporting of results within the extended study period.