Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion

Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion

CDC Pediatric mTBI Guideline

HEADS UP to Healthcare Providers online training is now available on CDC Train! There are three different versions
offered for clinicians, school health providers, (e.g. school nurses), and other allied health professionals.  Sign up today
and earn 2.0 Continuing Education Credits through the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Take Action to Improve the Care of Children with mTBI

The goal of the CDC Pediatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) Guideline is to help healthcare providers take action to
improve the health of their patients. The CDC Pediatric mTBI Guideline consists of 19 sets of clinical recommendations that
cover diagnosis, prognosis, and management and treatment. These recommendations are for healthcare providers working
in: inpatient, emergency, primary, and outpatient care settings.

The CDC Pediatric mTBI Guideline was developed through a rigorous process guided by the American Academy of Neurology
and 2010 National Academy of Sciences methodologies. An extensive review of scientific literature, spanning 25 years of
research, formed the basis of the Guideline.

Overview

✓ Read the Guideline 

Key Recommendations from the CDC Pediatric mTBI
✓ Read the Systematic Review Guideline:
(that summarizes the evidence
that forms the basis of the CDC 1. Do not routinely image patients to diagnose mTBI.
Pediatric mTBI Guideline) 
2. Use validated, age-appropriate symptom scales to diagnose mTBI.
✓ Learn about validated symptom
3. Assess evidence-based risk factors for prolonged recovery.
assessment tools and scales 
4. Provide patients with instructions on return to activity customized to their
✓ Learn about the CDC Pediatric
symptoms.
mTBI Workgroup
 mTBI Workgroup
5. Counsel patients to return gradually to non-sports activities after no more
than 2-3 days of rest.

Provider Tools

Checklist on Diagnosis and Management At A Glance: Prognosis

Download  Download 

Web Page
At A Glance: Treatment

At A Glance: Diagnosis

Download 

Download 
Acute Concussion Evaluation (ACE) Forms

Letter to schools to be filled in by

healthcare providers

The ACE (Acute Concussion Evaluation) forms are

patient assessment tools.

DOWNLOAD
Download 
Emergency Department ACE form 

Physician/Clinician office ACE form 

Training
Click here for more information about the HEADS UP to Healthcare Providers online training.
Patient and Family Resources

Discharge Instructions Symptom-based Recovery Tips

English  [PDF – 1 MB] English  [PDF – 1 MB]

Español  [PDF – 772 KB] Español  [PDF – 771 KB]

To learn more about concussion, such as the signs and symptoms and how to safely return to school and sports after a
concussion, check out the CDC HEADS UP website.
Page last reviewed: August 10, 2022