Citation

Aras Y, Sabanci PA, Unal TC, Aydoseli A, Izgi N. Eur. J. Trauma Emerg. Surg. 2016; 43(4): 467-473.

Affiliation

Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul University, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00068-016-0668-3

PMID

27062402

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze epidemiologic data of patients with head injuries (HI) who were admitted to the Trauma and Emergency Surgery Department.

METHODS: The hospital records of 497 patients with HI who were admitted to the Trauma and Emergency Surgery Department from January 1, 2014, through 31 December, 2014, were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS: The male-to-female ratio was 2:1, and the mean age was 16.3 years. The rates of patients with mild, moderate, and severe HI were 93, 3, and 4 %, respectively. The most common cause of trauma was falls. Linear fractures were the most common radiologic diagnoses with 242 cases (49 %). Of the patients admitted to hospital, 22 % presented 4 h after the trauma had occurred. Mortality rate due to HI was 3 % (15 patients). Outcome was associated with admission Glasgow Coma Scale and presence of additional trauma.

CONCLUSIONS: The number of traffic accidents and assaults were considerably higher in the young adult population compared with the other age groups. Traffic accidents accounted for 46.6 % of the mortality rate. Mortality in HI patients mostly arises from preventable conditions, and the young adult population seems to be the most affected group. HI should be considered as a public health issue, and prevention of HI should be the primary goal.

Language: en