Background: 5­209 of patients may have persistent symptoms including cognitive deficits following mild traumatic brain in6ury (mTBI). The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) is a simple tool specifically designed to screen for mild cognitive impairment. Obective: To compare MOCA with the commonly used Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE). Setting: The study was conducted at the institute of neurosurgery, Madras Medical College from April to June 2017. Subects: A non­randomi@ed cohort of 50 patients presenting to the trauma ward with an antecedent history of trauma to the head (irrespective of cause). Results: A total of 28 patients were deemed to have cognitive impairment by the MOCA, 8 patients were deemed to have cognitive impairment by the MMSE representing a highly significant difference (p value A0.01). Both the scores agreed in a total of 30 cases, of which 22 cases were deemed to have no cognitive impairment by both tests and 8 patients were deemed to have cognitive impairment by both tests. Of particular importance is that no patient found to be cognitively impaired by the MMSE was deemed normal by the MOCA. Conclusion: The number of patients being categori@ed as being cognitively impaired by the MOCA, while being higher than that of the MMSE, conforms more to the pattern of cognitive deficits that are currently seen in patients with mTBI. MOCA may be superior to the MMSE to detect mild cognitive deficits in the setting of neurotrauma and at the very least maybe used in its stead. 

Keywords MOCAB MMSEB Traumatic Brain In6uryB Cognitive Defects.