A Summary of the First Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury/Concussion and Persisting Post-concussion Symptoms

Barlow, Karen MLim, Sheryl SYHaines, ElizabethCowen, GillPonsford, JennieTheadom, AliceTreleaven, JuliaDavis, GavinAnderson, VickiBabl, FranzCole, DavidCullen, JenniferDalziel, StuartFitzgerald, MelindaFlavell, HowardYates, CarolineKimble, RebeccaOlver, JohnOrr, RhondaRalfe, MarkRose, MichaelRushworth, NickBrowne, GaryMitchell, GaryTweedy, Sean2026-02-122026-02-122026-02-01Aust J Gen Pract, ISSN: 2208-794X (Print); 2208-7958 (Online), The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, 55(1-2), 29-35. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-08-25-78012208-794X2208-7958http://hdl.handle.net/10292/20628BACKGROUND: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and concussion are important healthcare issues, with ongoing and persisting symptoms significantly affecting a person's quality of life. Management is often challenging. OBJECTIVE: Using a case study example, this article outlines key updates and practical guidance for assessment and management of mTBI/concussion, informed by the newly developed Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand (ANZ) mTBI and concussion clinical practice guideline. DISCUSSION: The 'Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Clinical Practice Guideline for the management of mild traumatic brain injury/concussion and persisting post-concussion symptoms in adults and children' is the first guideline to address the full scope of mTBI/concussion management across diverse ANZ populations. It provides general practitioners and other clinicians with practical, evidence-based recommendations for assessing and managing mTBI and persisting symptoms across all ages. Developed through multidisciplinary and consumer collaboration, it aims to promote consistent, high-quality care and reduce practice variation across healthcare settings.This is the Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in the Australian Journal of General Practice © 2026 The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). The Version of Record is available (free access) at DOI: 10.31128/AJGP-08-25-78011103 Clinical Sciences1117 Public Health and Health ServicesGeneral & Internal Medicine3901 Curriculum and pedagogy4203 Health services and systemsHumansNew ZealandAustraliaBrain ConcussionPost-Concussion SyndromeAdultPractice Guidelines as TopicA Summary of the First Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury/Concussion and Persisting Post-concussion SymptomsJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.31128/AJGP-08-25-7801