Epidemiological survey, clinical findings, CT scan Results, Complications and Outcomes in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injuries referred to Imam Hospital of Sari in the year 2017

Background and aim: Traumatic brain injury (TBIs) is one of the most important causes of death and disability all over the world. TBIs include a wide range of mild and reversible to severe and life-threatening causes of permanent disability. Since the majority of injured people are at an advanced age, the loss of life expectancy would be very high. Having knowledge and information about the types of injuries caused by TBIs are essential, therefore the purpose of this study was to determine the epidemiological, clinical, CT imaging findings, and outcomes of patients with TBIs. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted on 260 patients with head trauma in emergency department of Imam Khomeini Hospital of Sari in the 2017. Patients on anticoagulant drugs, pregnant women and individuals with brain ischemic or hemorrhagic lesions and brain tumors were excluded. Demographic characteristics and information on the mechanism of trauma, initial level of consciousness (GCS), traumatic symptoms and complications, clinical findings, imaging results and patients outcomes were recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results: 71.9% of patients were male and 28.1% were female. The mean age of patients was 19.71 ± 30.41 years. 70% lived in urban areas. The most common traumatic mechanisms among TBI patients were car accidents (41.9%) and falls (31.2%). 81.5% of patients had GCS of 13 to 15. The most common clinical symptoms at the first 6 hours were headache (73.1%), nausea (48.1%), dizziness (40.4%) and vomiting (32.7%). The most common clinical finding at the second 6 hours was raccoon eye sign (21.2%). Depressed fractures were the most common finding in CT scan (19.2%). The mean duration of hospitalization was about 3 days. 57.7% of patients with head trauma experienced a primary complication and 2.3% experienced a secondary complication. 53.8% of patients were transferred to other hospital wards for further investigations and 3.5% of TBI patients were died. Conclusion: In general, the prevalence of clinical complications was higher in men than in women. The incidence of headache in the first 6 hours after TBI was more common in the age group of 11 to 40 years, and requires special attention to active groups of the community economically. Road accidents were also a major cause of trauma so prevention of road traffic accidents can play a significant role in reducing traumatic brain injuries.