Day of Injury Cognitive Performance on the Military Acute Concussion Evaluation (MACE) by U.S. Military Service Members in OEF/OIF

ABSTRACT Objectives: The study investigated the clinical validity of the cognitive screening component of the Military Acute Concussion Evaluation (MACE) for the evaluation of acute mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in a military operational setting. Methods: This was a retrospective data study involving analysis of MACE data on Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom deployed service members with mTBI. In total, 179 cases were included in analyses based on ICD-9 diagnostic codes and characteristics of mTBI, and availability of MACE data on day of injury. MACE data from the mTBI group was compared to a military sample without mTBI administered the MACE as part of a normative data project. Results: On day of injury, the mTBI group performed worse than controls on the MACE cognitive test (d = 0.90), with significant impairments in all cognitive domains assessed. MACE cognitive score was strongly associated with established indicators of acute injury severity. Lower MACE cognitive performance on ...