A group of North Texas hospitals led by UT Southwestern Medical Center are partnering with the University Interscholastic League for a study on concussions in area student athletes.
The study, called CON-TEX, is led by researchers at UT Southwestern's O'Donnell Brain Institute, is a collaborative effort with Children’s Medical Center Dallas, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, UT Dallas, and Texas Health Resources Ben Hogan Sports Clinics and the UIL.
Researchers will study how concussions affect kids in all sports -- not just football. During the 2016-2017 seasons, when a student-athlete reports a concussion, the UIL will report that information to CON-TEX.
The data will include what sport the child was playing, their symptoms, treatment and how long it took them to recover.
"The CON-TEX study is designed to capture comprehensive, longitudinal data on sports-related concussion and mild TBI (traumatic brain injury) subjects. The data will give a “snapshot” of the current state of concussion assessment and treatment in youth athletes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area," UTSW said on their page.
Doctor Bert Vargas, from UTSW, said it's important parents pay close attention to their kids as fall sports get under way and that they be aware of common concussion symptoms like dizziness, headaches and behavioral changes such as a lack of sleep, anxiety, depression or moodiness.
If you or your child is 5 years or older and interested in participating in the registry, please contact: Christopher Paliotta, B.A. Lead Clinical Research Coordinator for the CON-TEX study. 214-648-7241
