Global neurotrauma: A systematic review and summary of the current state of registries around the world

Abstract

Neurotrauma registries (NTR) collect data on traumatic brain injuries (TBI) to advance knowledge, shape policies, and improve outcomes. This study reviews global NTRs from High-Income (HICs) and Low- and Middle-Income countries (LMICs). A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, and Web of Science following PRISMA guidelines to identify relevant NTRs. Twenty-six articles were included, revealing ten different NTRs from Europe, North America, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia. North America had the most registries at four, followed by Europe and Asia with two each, and Latin America and the Middle East with one each. The median database size was 1,734 patients (Range: 65-25,000), with the largest registry from the United States (FITBIR DB) and the smallest from Iran (NSCIR-IR). The longest data collection period was 32 years, with a mean age of 43.1 years (Range: 9.07-60.0). Males comprised 70 % of patients. Sixty-six percent of articles emphasized outcomes such as functionality, length of stay, and mortality. Key challenges identified included issues with missing data and incomplete records (n = 4), lack of standardization in data collection procedures (n = 3), staffing shortages (n = 5), lack of IT infrastructure (n = 3), and problems with reproducibility, particularly in high-income countries (n = 4). Our review highlights the need for a large-scale global NTR, addressing LMIC barriers through private-public partnerships with organized neurosurgery members.

Keywords: Databank; Database; Neurotrauma; Registry; Spinal Cord Injury; Traumatic Brain Injury.