@article{ref1,
title="Incidence of traumatic brain injuries within the prehospital trauma registry system",
journal="Journal of Special Operations Medicine",
year="2024",
author="Braden, Stephen F. and Schauer, Steven Gremel and Dengler, Bradley A. and April, Michael D. and Rizzo, Julie and Long, Brit",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often underreported or undetected in prehospital civilian and military settings. This study evaluated the incidence of TBI within the Prehospital Trauma Registry (PHTR) system. <br><br>METHODS: We reviewed PHTR and the linked Department of Defense Trauma Registry (DoDTR) records of casualties from January 2003 through May 2019 for diagnostic data and surgical reports. <br><br>RESULTS: A total of 709 casualties met inclusion criteria. The most common mechanism was blast, including 328 (51%) in the non-TBI and 45 (63%) in the TBI cohorts. The median injury severity scores in the non-TBI and TBI cohorts were 5 and 14, respectively. The survival scores in the non-TBI and TBI cohorts were 98% and 92%, respectively. Subdural hematomas, followed by subarachnoid hemorrhages were the most common classifiable brain injuries. Other nonspecific TBIs occurred in 85% of the TBI cohort casualties. Seventy-two cases (10%) were documented by the Role 1 clinician. Based on coding or operative data, 15 of the 72 (21%) were identified as TBIs. Of the 637 cases, which could not be decided based on coding or operative data, TBI was suspected in 42 (7%) cases based on Role 1 records. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Over 1 in 10 casualties presenting to a Role 1 facility had a TBI requiring transfer to a higher level of care. Our findings suggest the need for improved diagnostic technologies and documentation systems at Role 1 facilities for accurate TBI diagnosis and reporting.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1553-9768",
doi="10.55460/6RSJ-GXLF",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.55460/6RSJ-GXLF"
}