A Clinical Analysis on 1000 Consecutive Head Injuries

ABSTRACT

A series of 1000 consecutive head injuries was presented. Traffic accident was the major cause of head injury(77.1%). Unlikely to the other reports in Korea, 1) passenger's traffic accident was slightly more common than pedestrian traffic accident, 2) traffic accidents related to motorcycles and bicycles were more common, and 3) traffic accident to the tractor shared 3.2% of the traffic accident. Transportation of the patients was not delayed in this medium sized city. Glasgow coma score on arrival was 3-8 in 15.4%, 9-12 in 11.2%, and 13-15 in 73.4%. Cranial vault fracture was observed in 31.6%. The presence of vault fracture was closely related to the rate of operation and the mortality. CT brain scan was performed in 720 patients. Abnormal findings were observed 365 patients(50.7%), including 233 cases of mass lesions and 101 cases of diffuse lesions. Epidural hematoma was the most common mass lesion. The rate of operation was 14.9%, and the operative morality was 30.6%. Outcome at discharge was good recovery 729, moderate disability 78, severe disability 21, vegetative state 3, and death 96. There were 73 cases who were self-discharged or transferred to other hospitals. Overall case fatality rate was 10.4%.