Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of head trauma patients admitted to the emergency department: A prospective study

Abstract

Objective: Head trauma is a significant reason for emergency department admissions. In this study, we prospectively examined head trauma cases admitted between October and December 2011, aiming to identify risk factors and contribute to the epidemiological database in our country.

Materials and methods: Head trauma cases admitted to the emergency department between 08:00 and 17:00 during October-December 2011 were evaluated. Data collected included admission time, gender, vital signs, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, mechanism of injury, associated organ injuries, comorbidities, substance or alcohol use, neuroradiological findings, interventions performed in the emergency department, neurosurgical consultations, and surgical requirements. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the patients' epidemiological characteristics, discharge rates, hospitalizations, and mortality rates, providing results specific to our institution.

Results: A total of 206 patients were included. Among the patients, 59.22% were admitted due to domestic accidents, while 21.84% were brought in after traffic accidents. Of the 206 patients evaluated, 149 had normal findings on computed tomography (CT), while pathological findings were detected in 10 patients. Twelve patients were hospitalized, 3 underwent emergency surgery, and 191 were discharged from the emergency department.

Conclusion: In our study, domestic falls were more common than traffic accidents as a cause of head trauma; however, traffic accidents were associated with a higher risk level based on GCS scores. Patients aged 60 years and older demonstrated a higher prevalence of pathological findings on CT, identifying advanced age as a significant risk factor. The most frequently observed pathology was traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).