Open AccessSubconcussive Head Impact Exposure and White Matter Tract Changes over a Single Season of Youth Football
Author(s) -
Naeim Bahrami,
Dev Sharma,
Scott L. Rosenthal,
Elizabeth M. Davenport,
Jillian E. Urban,
Benjamin Wagner,
Youngkyoo Jung,
Christopher G. Vaughan,
Gérard A. Gioia,
Joel D. Stitzel,
Christopher T. Whitlow,
Joseph A. Maldjian
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
radiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1527-1315
pISSN - 0033-8419
DOI - 10.1148/radiol.2016160564
Subject(s) - fractional anisotropy , fasciculus , medicine , white matter , diffusion mri , superior longitudinal fasciculus , inferior longitudinal fasciculus , anatomy , magnetic resonance imaging , radiology
Purpose To examine the effects of subconcussive impacts resulting from a single season of youth (age range, 8-13 years) football on changes in specific white matter (WM) tracts as detected with diffusion-tensor imaging in the absence of clinically diagnosed concussions. Materials and Methods Head impact data were recorded by using the Head Impact Telemetry system and quantified as the combined-probability risk-weighted cumulative exposure (RWE CP ). Twenty-five male participants were evaluated for seasonal fractional anisotropy (FA) changes in specific WM tracts: the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), inferior longitudinal fasciculus, and superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF). Fiber tracts were segmented into a central core and two fiber terminals. The relationship between seasonal FA change in the whole fiber, central core, and the fiber terminals with RWE CP was also investigated. Linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the association between RWE CP and change in fiber tract FA during the season. Results There were statistically significant linear relationships between RWE cp and decreased FA in the whole (R 2 = 0.433; P = .003), core (R 2 = 0.3649; P = .007), and terminals (R 2 = 0.5666; P < .001) of left IFOF. A trend toward statistical significance (P = .08) in right SLF was observed. A statistically significant correlation between decrease in FA of the right SLF terminal and RWE CP was also observed (R 2 = 0.2893; P = .028). Conclusion This study found a statistically significant relationship between head impact exposure and change of FA fractional anisotropy value of whole, core, and terminals of left IFOF and right SLF's terminals where WM and gray matter intersect, in the absence of a clinically diagnosed concussion. © RSNA, 2016.