Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine (Aug 2019)
On-field assessment of concussion: clinical utility of the King-Devick test
Abstract
Andrew D Legarreta,1 Nishit Mummareddy,1 Aaron M Yengo-Kahn,1,2 Scott L Zuckerman1,21Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA; 2Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USACorrespondence: Scott L ZuckermanDepartment of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Medical Center North T-4224, Nashville, TN 37212, USATel +1 914 980 3339Fax +1 615 343 6948Email [email protected]: Sport-related concussion (SRC) is an important public health concern with up to 3.8 million SRCs occurring each year. As the incidence and rate of SRC increases, reliable and valid tools for diagnosis and management are needed. The King-Devick (K-D) test assesses a patient’s visual function based on reading a series of numbers as well as counting both time to completion and errors. Its rapid administration time and simplicity make the K-D test a potentially useful SRC diagnostic tool, though limitations exist in baseline testing and what constitutes an abnormal score. Additionally, the K-D tests should never be used in isolation to diagnose a concussion, but rather as one test in conjunction with additional clinical measures, as part of an individualized approach to each patient. The current review examines the clinical utility of the K-D test.Keywords: King-Devick test, sport-related concussion, narrative review, SRC
