mTBI
Medical abbreviation · Neurology
| Stands for | Mild traumatic brain injury |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
mTBI stands for Mild traumatic brain injury, a neurology abbreviation.
Head injury causing brief confusion, disorientation or loss of consciousness lasting under 30 minutes, with a Glasgow Coma Scale of 13 to 15 and no lasting deficits on standard imaging. Concussion is generally treated as a form of mTBI.
Example: ED dx: mTBI after rugby tackle, CT not indicated per Canadian CT Head Rule; return-to-play protocol given.
Usage notes
Most people recover within days to weeks, but a minority have persistent symptoms. Decision rules such as the Canadian CT Head Rule and PECARN for children reduce unnecessary CT scans, and the FDA cleared the first blood test for brain injury markers in 2018 to help decide who needs imaging. International sport concussion consensus statements, most recently from Amsterdam (2022), guide graduated return to play.
Related abbreviations
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- mRS – Modified Rankin Scale
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- MSLT – Multiple sleep latency test
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- NCS – Nerve conduction study
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- NCV – Nerve conduction velocity
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- NIHSS – National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale
- NMOSD – Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
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This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.