Day of injury cognitive performance on the Military Acute Concussion Evaluation (MACE) by U.S. military service members in OEF/OIF.

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 day of injury was predictive of lengthier postinjury recovery time and time until return to duty after mTBI.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings from the current study support the use of the MACE as a valid screening tool to assess for cognitive dysfunction in military service members during the acute phase after mTBI.