Assessment of the Efficacy of Medrol Dose Pack for Acute Post-Concussive Headaches
1 other identifier
observational
25
1 country
1
Brief Summary
This novel pilot project will assess the effectiveness of corticosteroids in treatment of acute post-concussion headache. The investigators hypothesize that the use of corticosteroids will cause significant headache reduction in frequency and/or intensity than individuals who undergo the current standard of care. Additionally, the investigators hypothesize that corticosteroid use will lead to a reduction in other somatic symptoms including vestibular symptoms, leading to quicker return to school, work, and/or ability to play sports.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at below P25 for all trials
Started Apr 2021
Longer than P75 for all trials
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
December 22, 2020
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
December 28, 2020
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
April 1, 2021
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
December 1, 2025
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
December 1, 2026
ExpectedNovember 12, 2024
November 1, 2024
4.7 years
December 22, 2020
November 8, 2024
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Change in headaches
Defined as change in headache in response to medication
1 Week
Secondary Outcomes (3)
Change in total Post Concussion Symptom (0-120) scores over time
12 weeks
EQ-5D (Euro Qual Health State Questionnaire) score changes (1-100 in each category); higher score indicates better state of health in several domains.
12 weeks
Diary of other medication use and pain level
12 weeks
Interventions
The Methylprednisolone dose pack (Medrol Dose Pack) is pre-packaged with dosing instructions. This dose pack is tapered over 7 days and administration will be the following for all patients: Day 1 (total 24 milligrams (mg)) - 8mg before breakfast, 4mg after lunch and dinner, and 8mg at bedtime Day 2 (total 20mg) - 4mg before breakfast, after lunch and dinner, and 8mg at bedtime Day 3 (total 16mg) - 4mg before breakfast, lunch, dinner, and at bedtime Day 4 (total 12mg) - 4mg before breakfast, after lunch, and at bedtime Day 5 (total 8mg) - 4mg before breakfast and at bedtime Day 6 (total 4mg) - 4mg before breakfast Day 7 (total 0mg) - Completed
Eligibility Criteria
Patients who meet the inclusion criteria will be consented for the study. Patients will be recruited when they follow up on their initial appointment after hospitalization
You may qualify if:
- Provision of signed and dated informed consent form (in person or via telehealth)
- Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
- Male or female, aged \>18 years old
- Ability to take oral medication and be willing to adhere to the study regimen as described in this protocol
- Patients presenting with all types of post-concussive headache with \>5/10 in severity on the numerical analog scale.
- Headache that occurs for \> 4 hours per day
- Headache that occurs every day
- Headache that began after concussion, patient was diagnosed at an outpatient clinic or was hospitalized
- Headache developed within 7 days post-injury and patient presenting within 30 days from initial trauma
- A diagnosis of concussion.
- If a patient is taking another pain medication, this still be included in the stud
You may not qualify if:
- Any evidence of known intracranial hemorrhage on neuroimaging
- Headache developing after 7 days post injury and patient presenting after 30 days from initial trauma
- Headache occurs \< 4 hours per day
- Headache does not occur daily
- Age \< or = 18
- Headache is \< 5 in severity on numerical analog scale
- Presence of increase in intracranial pressure or papilledema
- Any contraindication to corticosteroids
- Allergy or sensitivity to corticosteroids
- Active Tuberculosis
- Active pregnancy
- Currently on corticosteroids for another reason
- Participants with fungal infection
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- Northwell Healthlead
Study Sites (1)
Northwell Health - North Shore University Hospital
Manhasset, New York, 11030, United States
Related Publications (18)
Bulamu NB, Kaambwa B, Ratcliffe J. A systematic review of instruments for measuring outcomes in economic evaluation within aged care. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2015 Nov 9;13:179. doi: 10.1186/s12955-015-0372-8.
PMID: 26553129BACKGROUNDBramley H, Hong J, Zacko C, Royer C, Silvis M. Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-concussion Syndrome: Treatment and Related Sequela for Persistent Symptomatic Disease. Sports Med Arthrosc Rev. 2016 Sep;24(3):123-9. doi: 10.1097/JSA.0000000000000111.
PMID: 27482778BACKGROUNDBramley H, Melinosky C, Silvis M, Ross S. Pediatric posttraumatic headache: two cases using steroids as abortive therapy. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2012 Oct;28(10):1081-4. doi: 10.1097/PEC.0b013e31826ceeeb.
PMID: 23034499BACKGROUNDCushman DM, Borowski L, Hansen C, Hendrick J, Bushman T, Teramoto M. Gabapentin and Tricyclics in the Treatment of Post-Concussive Headache, a Retrospective Cohort Study. Headache. 2019 Mar;59(3):371-382. doi: 10.1111/head.13451. Epub 2018 Nov 19.
PMID: 30451286BACKGROUNDDucic I, Sinkin JC, Crutchfield KE. Interdisciplinary treatment of post-concussion and post-traumatic headaches. Microsurgery. 2015 Nov;35(8):603-7. doi: 10.1002/micr.22503. Epub 2015 Sep 26.
PMID: 26409037BACKGROUNDEuroQol Group. EuroQol--a new facility for the measurement of health-related quality of life. Health Policy. 1990 Dec;16(3):199-208. doi: 10.1016/0168-8510(90)90421-9.
PMID: 10109801BACKGROUNDHalstead ME. Pharmacologic Therapies for Pediatric Concussions. Sports Health. 2016 Jan-Feb;8(1):50-2. doi: 10.1177/1941738115622158.
PMID: 26660460BACKGROUNDHoshide R, Cheung V, Marshall L, Kasper E, Chen CC. Do corticosteroids play a role in the management of traumatic brain injury? Surg Neurol Int. 2016 Sep 13;7:84. doi: 10.4103/2152-7806.190439. eCollection 2016.
PMID: 27656315BACKGROUNDKacperski J. Pharmacotherapy for Persistent Posttraumatic Headaches in Children and Adolescents: A Brief Review of the Literature. Paediatr Drugs. 2018 Oct;20(5):385-393. doi: 10.1007/s40272-018-0299-8.
PMID: 29876872BACKGROUNDKing NS, Crawford S, Wenden FJ, Moss NE, Wade DT. The Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire: a measure of symptoms commonly experienced after head injury and its reliability. J Neurol. 1995 Sep;242(9):587-92. doi: 10.1007/BF00868811.
PMID: 8551320BACKGROUNDKuczynski A, Crawford S, Bodell L, Dewey D, Barlow KM. Characteristics of post-traumatic headaches in children following mild traumatic brain injury and their response to treatment: a prospective cohort. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2013 Jul;55(7):636-41. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12152. Epub 2013 Apr 5.
PMID: 23560811BACKGROUNDLarsen EL, Ashina H, Iljazi A, Al-Khazali HM, Seem K, Ashina M, Ashina S, Schytz HW. Acute and preventive pharmacological treatment of post-traumatic headache: a systematic review. J Headache Pain. 2019 Oct 21;20(1):98. doi: 10.1186/s10194-019-1051-7.
PMID: 31638888BACKGROUNDMarshall S, Bayley M, McCullagh S, Velikonja D, Berrigan L, Ouchterlony D, Weegar K; mTBI Expert Consensus Group. Updated clinical practice guidelines for concussion/mild traumatic brain injury and persistent symptoms. Brain Inj. 2015;29(6):688-700. doi: 10.3109/02699052.2015.1004755. Epub 2015 Apr 14.
PMID: 25871303BACKGROUNDPotter S, Leigh E, Wade D, Fleminger S. The Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire: a confirmatory factor analysis. J Neurol. 2006 Dec;253(12):1603-14. doi: 10.1007/s00415-006-0275-z. Epub 2006 Oct 24.
PMID: 17063314BACKGROUNDRabin R, de Charro F. EQ-5D: a measure of health status from the EuroQol Group. Ann Med. 2001 Jul;33(5):337-43. doi: 10.3109/07853890109002087.
PMID: 11491192BACKGROUNDSeifert T. Post-Traumatic Headache Therapy in the Athlete. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2016 Jun;20(6):41. doi: 10.1007/s11916-016-0568-6.
PMID: 27184059BACKGROUNDSolomon S. Post-traumatic headache: commentary: an overview. Headache. 2009 Jul;49(7):1112-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4610.2009.01462.x.
PMID: 19583600BACKGROUNDBland JM, Altman DG. Applying the right statistics: analyses of measurement studies. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2003 Jul;22(1):85-93. doi: 10.1002/uog.122.
PMID: 12858311BACKGROUND
Related Links
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Jamie S Ullman, MD
Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- observational
- Observational Model
- COHORT
- Time Perspective
- PROSPECTIVE
- Target Duration
- 3 Months
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
December 22, 2020
First Posted
December 28, 2020
Study Start
April 1, 2021
Primary Completion
December 1, 2025
Study Completion (Estimated)
December 1, 2026
Last Updated
November 12, 2024
Record last verified: 2024-11
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share