1548 - Postconcussion syndrome after multiple roller coaster rides

Case Diagnosis: Postconcussion syndrome after multiple roller coaster rides

Case Description: 18-year-old-male with no past medical history presented to emergency department with dizziness, fatigue, difficulty in concentration and severe headaches for the past two weeks. Prior to these symptoms, the patient was on marathon to go to as many roller coasters as possible. The patient noted that he went to at least 30 roller coasters within a two-week period. Patient denied any head trauma, motor vehicle collisions, and any medications or illicit drugs. A head computed tomography was performed and showed no intracranial pathology. The laboratory work was within normal limits. The musculoskeletal examination was normal. Patient had difficulty with the tandem Romberg test and single limb stance. Cognition examination demonstrated recall 1/3 after 5 minutes. He also had difficulty with sequencing and concentration tests. A postconcussion symptom scale was performed, and the patient scored a 24/132. The patient was diagnosed with postconcussion syndrome caused by the multiple roller coaster rides.

Discussions: Roller coaster rides cause human brains to undergo multiple abrupt direction changes, rotational acceleration forces, and head impactions. These brain displacements and deformations are similar to concussive head injuries seen in athletes. Although uncommon for individuals going on roller coaster rides, our patient experienced more than 30 rides in a two-week span. The accumulation of these forces to the brain resulted in the patient having a concussion and resulted in a postconcussion syndrome. The patient was given education on concussion and an outpatient concussion rehabilitation program and was discharged home.

Conclusions: Concussions are rarely seen in people going on roller coaster rides. This case report highlights that multiple roller coaster rides can lead to a concussion and postconcussion syndrome.