Traumatic brain injury registry in Taiwan.
This project was designed to examine the epidemiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Taiwan. A total of 58,563 cases of TBI was collected from 114 hospitals in Taiwan during the period July 1, 1988-June 30, 1994. Traffic accident was the major cause of TBI (69.4%), followed by falls and assaults. Motorcyclists accounted for the vast majority of TBI cases among traffic accident victims (64.5%). The Glasgow Coma Scale was used in assessing the severity. 41,646 cases (79.5%) were considered mild, 4,637 cases (8.9%) moderate, and 6,078 cases (11.6%) severe. Skull x-ray showed fracture in 7,663 cases (14.6%). Intracranial hemorrhage was identified in 28.6% of patients receiving CT scanning. Craniotomy was performed in 5,226 cases (9%). The outcome of TBI was determined by the Glasgow Outcome Scale. Death occurred in 2,621 cases (5.4%), vegetative state in 429 cases (0.9%), severe disability in 1,293 cases (2.6%), moderate disability in 1,890 cases (3.9%), and good recovery in 42,596 cases (87.2%). The severity and outcome were worse than those of Western reports. In order to alleviate this problem, a helmet use persuasion program was conducted by the Police Department in Taipei City from January to June, 1994. Results of this program showed a significant reduction of TBI-related hospitalization, severity and fatality during this period of intervention. This study points out the seriousness of TBI in Taiwan and suggests some approaches and priorities for prevention.
Chiu
W T
WT
Taipei Medical College, Taiwan, ROC.
Yeh
K H
KH
Li
Y C
YC
Gan
Y H
YH
Chen
H Y
HY
Hung
C C
CC
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D009049:Motorcycles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012042:Registries; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy