ABSTRACT
@#Over the past few decades, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have become one of the leading causes of death and the leading cause of injury-related death in the USA.[1,2] It is estimated that 1.70 million people are subject to TBIs each year.[2] Males are more likely to sustain TBIs (59%); the most common age groups are 0-5 years, 15-19 years, and >65 years.[2] Approximately 1.36 million people present to the emergency department (ED), 275,000 are admitted to the hospital, and 52,000 people die from TBIs.[2] The leading causes of TBIs are falling (35.2%), motor vehicle collisions (MVCs, 17.3%), struck by/against an object (16.5%), and assault (10.0%).[2] These statistics combine to make TBIs the leading cause of injury-related death in the USA at 30.5%.[2] It has been estimated that, with specific guidelines from the Brain Trauma Foundation, up to 50.0% of the 52,000 TBI-related deaths may be prevented.[3]