On this episode of Advances in Care, host Erin Welsh sits down with Dr. Thomas Bottiglieri, chief of the primary care sports medicine division at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia, to discuss the evolving landscape of concussion care– from prevalence to emerging diagnostic breakthroughs.
With over 2 million estimated concussions occurring annually in the United States, and many of them affecting young athletes, Dr. Bottiglieri and his colleagues have sought to develop a more accurate and accessible way to objectively diagnose concussion. While a single injury may not cause long term issues, research shows that repeated head trauma– and lack of proper care– can lead to premature neurodegeneration.
During their research to improve diagnostic measures, Dr. Bottiglieri and his team discovered a biomarker associated with severe concussions: a subtle tremor of the head and neck that becomes amplified when a concussed patient tries to visually focus on a target.
This discovery led to the development of ProScope, an innovative eyetracking software tool that measures head and neck stability and can detect the diagnostic biomarker with over 80% sensitivity. With the advent of these tools, clinicians can now, for the first time, objectively measure concussion. A former competitive athlete himself, Dr. Bottiglieri hopes that the ProScope tool can become commercially available to improve access to cost-effective diagnosis, ensuring that athletes– or anyone with a head injury– can recover safely and return to the activities they love.
Chapters:
[00:00 - 3:09] Improving Concussion Diagnostics
Dr. Bottiglieri shares how his own experience with a sports related concussion informs his approach with patients and motivates him to improve concussion diagnostics.
[3:09 - 8:31] Discovering a Biomarker for Severe Concussion
Dr. Bottiglieri explains how most concussions are diagnosed by patients self-reporting rather than quantifiable clinical signs and how his recent research has identified a new biomarker associated with severe concussions.
[8:31 - 13:00] The ProScope Tool
Dr. Bottiglieri describes the development of the ProScope, a tool used to detect the diagnostic biomarker with 80% sensitivity, and his hopes to collaborate with other institutions to expand injury data to further refine it.
[13:00 - 16:35] Expanding Access
Dr. Bottiglieri discusses how he hopes to make the ProScope commercially available to more accurately diagnose concussion on the field and avoid repetitive head trauma.
[16:35 - 17:21] Credits
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Thomas S. Bottiglieri, D.O. is a sports medicine physician specializing in the management of orthopedic injuries and disorders impacting athletes at all skill levels from adolescents to seniors. In addition to treating the full spectrum of muscle, bone, tendon, and joint injuries, Dr. Bottiglieri is a nationally recognized expert in the field of concussion care. His practice stresses shared decision-making with patients and their families and uses the latest medical technology, evidence-based sports medicine, and a compassionate, patient-centered approach.
For more information visit nyp.org/Advances
