Since the original American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) definition of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) published in 1993, many other groups or organizations have proposed alternative definitions. The current state of affairs is widespread variability in how mTBI is diagnosed in clinical and research settings. From 2018-2023, the ACRM mTBI Task Force developed new diagnostic criteria that incorporate scientific advancements from past 30 years and aim to improve the consistency of mTBI diagnosis. This presentation will provide an overview of the new diagnostic criteria and demonstrate how to use them.

 

Learning objectives:

1. Describe the methodology used to develop the new ACRM diagnostic criteria for concussion/mild traumatic brain injury.
2. List the necessary and sufficient elements of the new ACRM diagnostic criteria.
3. Summarize the differences between the 1993 and new ACRM diagnostic criteria.
4. Apply the new ACRM diagnostic criteria to an individual patient.