Artikel
Treatment and outcome of patients after traumatic brain injury – an epidemiological study
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Veröffentlicht: | 18. Juni 2018 |
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Gliederung
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Objective: With the exception of a large prospective study examining epidemiology, causes, treatment and outcome of all degrees of head-injury in two distinct German areas 2000/2001 [1], large prospective studies dealing with this topic in Germany are widely lacking. The aim of the present study was the documentation of causes, treatment and outcome of patients after traumatic brain injury (TBI) who were treated in all participating hospitals in 2014/2015 in order to detect possible changes as compared to the study by Rickels et al., but also to identify predictors of positive or negative outcome after TBI.
Methods: In a prospective study, all patients, who were treated for any kind of TBI between 01.10.2014 and 30.09.2015 in all hospitals of the statutory accident insurance in Germany, treatment details were prospectively documented by standard assessment forms (initial treatment, acute treatment, rehabilitation) which were adapted from the forms used by Rickels et al. In addition the outcome was assessed by standardized telephone interviews 3 and 12 months after trauma. Every patient aged ≥ 18 with all degrees of traumatic brain injury (mild, moderate, severe) was included.
Results: In total, 3524 patients were included in the study. Regarding the age, Q3 was 75 years, indicating a relevant proportion of elder patients among the study population. Falls were the main cause of TBI, followed by road traffic accidents and external force (including violence). Amongst the road traffic accidents, cyclists without helmet were the most prominent group. Although more than 80% of TBI were classified as mild, 35% of the patients participating in the telephone interview 12 months after trauma reported symptoms that they contributed to the TBI.
Conclusion: The relevant proportion of elder patients together with the fact that falls were the most common cause of TBI document a relevant epidemiological shift. The prominent number of cyclists without helmets among the road traffic accident victims emphasizes the need for preventive measures with respect to this group. Further analysis is planned in order to identify risk factors for persistent symptoms 12 months after trauma.
References
- 1.
- Rickels E, von Wild K, Wenzlaff P. Head injury in Germany: A population-based prospective study on epidemiology, causes, treatment and outcome of all degrees of head-injury severity in two distinct areas. Brain Inj. 2010;24(12):1491-504. DOI: 10.3109/02699052.2010.498006