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. 2021 May 29;13(5):e15318.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.15318.

Traumatic Brain Injury: A Perspective on the Silent Epidemic

Ali Alkhaibary  1   2   3 , Abdulaziz Alshalawi  4 , Raad M M Althaqafi  4 , Abdullah A Alghuraybi  4 , Ali Basalamah  5 , Ahmed M Shammaa  6 , Ali A Altalhy  7 , Tamer M Abdelrahman  4
Affiliations

Traumatic Brain Injury: A Perspective on the Silent Epidemic

Ali Alkhaibary et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Background: Epidemiological data regarding the causes, patterns, severity, and outcomes of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are essential to plan for preventive strategies addressing this public health epidemic. The main aim of this study is to explore the patterns and causes of traumatic brain injury at two trauma centers.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a pre-tested validated data collection sheet. Data were collected from the medical records and electronic database of patients who presented to the emergency department with head trauma. Variables including the mechanisms, patterns of the injury, accompanying injuries, level of consciousness, and hospitalization duration were investigated for any possible association.

Results: A total of 269 patients (78% males, 22% females) who satisfied our study criteria were included in the final analysis. Motor vehicle collisions were the most common reason for traumatic brain injury (57.6%) followed by falls (28.3%). There was a statistically significant association observed between type of hemorrhage and Glasgow coma scale at initial presentation (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The most common cause of traumatic brain injury is motor vehicle collisions, followed by falls. The public should be made aware of the importance of using safety and precautionary measures to minimize the impact of traumatic brain injuries. Educational programs for neurotrauma prevention can be developed and utilized as a blueprint for local hospitals and officials in the country.

Keywords: collision; coma; head; injury; traffic.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Age distribution of patients with traumatic brain injury presenting to the emergency department.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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