Athletes Who Test Positive on Multiple Domains of the Vestibular-Ocular Motor Screen Take Longer to Return to Play.

Abstract

Background: The Vestibular-Ocular Motor Screen (VOMS) is a validated tool that is used to assess symptom provocation with vestibular and ocular testing following sport-related concussion (SRC). It is unknown if the involvement of multiple domains on the VOMS effects time to return to play (RTP) following SRC.

Hypothesis: Athletes who tested positive on >3 domains of the VOMS would take longer to RTP than athletes who tested positive on ≤3 domains of the VOMS.

Study design: Retrospective cohort study.

Level of evidence: Level 3.

Methods: A total of 928 athletes were enrolled from a concussion clinic. The median VOMS score was used to divide these athletes into 2 groups, those who tested positive on ≤3 domains (LOW) and those who tested positive on >3 domains (HIGH). Independent t-tests were used to assess for differences in time to RTP between groups. A simple linear regression was carried out to assess the influence of positive testing on the VOMS domains at the time of first evaluation on time to RTP.

Results: Independent t-tests demonstrated a significant difference in time to RTP between the LOW and HIGH groups, with the LOW group returning to play an average of 12.81 days sooner than the HIGH group. The simple linear regression showed that approximately 10.8% of the time to RTP after SRC could be explained by the number of domains that test positive at initial evaluation.

Conclusion: Athletes who test positive on >3 domains of the VOMS take longer to RTP than athletes who test positive on ≤3 domains of the VOMS at the time of initial evaluation.

Clinical relevance: The VOMS may be utilized to help determine which athletes may take longer to RTP based on the number of domains that are affected after SRC.