Post-concussional symptoms following minor head injury.
The effect of admission to hospital after a minor head injury on the incidence and duration of post-concussional symptoms was investigated. A total of 114 adults with a minor head injury were randomly allocated to admission for 24 h or to discharge from the accident department. Follow-up was by postal questionnaire. This revealed that 90 per cent of patients suffered symptoms lasting an average of 2 weeks. The patients who were discharged had symptoms that lasted a shorter time. Admission to hospital does not reduce the incidence and severity of symptoms following minor head injuries in adults.
Lowdon
I M
IM
Accident Service, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.
Briggs
M
M
Cockin
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires