thesis
Head Injury, from Men to Model
- Publication date
- 14 June 2000
- Publisher
- In well developed countries, injury is the leading cause of death and disability
among young adults. In less developed countries the incidence of injury is high
and rapidly increasing, but the relative mortality due to injuries is overshadowed
by other causes, such as infections and malnutrition. In the United
States of America each year approximately 1.000.000 people are treated and
released from hospital emergency departments because of head injury. About
80% of patients receiving medical attention can be categorised as mild
(Glasgow Coma Score = GCS 14-15), 10% as moderate (GCS 9-13), and 10% as
severe (GCS 3-8). According to the Centre of Disease Control in 1996 95
patients per 100.000 inhabitants required hospitalisation, or died because of
head injury. Leading causes of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the USA are
violence (self inflicted and assault, 44% fire arms), vehicle crashes (34%), falls
(9%), and other miscellaneous causes (14%). In Europe the majority of external
causes of traumatic brain injury is related to road traffic accidents and
accidental falls.