[Associated severe head injury].
OBJECTIVE
Rarely do head and spinal cord injuries occur as isolated injuries. The associated injuries are well known. Multitraumatized patients are assessed and treated on a priority principle, based on the nature of injuries and stability of vital signs. Neurosurgeons are frequently faced with diagnosing and treating head injury in multitraumatized patients. The authors studied the incidence, diagnosis and treatment of patients with head injuries in cases with multiple trauma.


METHODS
The authors conducted a retrospective review of 45 patients with severe head injuries in cases with multiple trauma. All patients were assessed after the GCS and GOS scoring system. All had CT scan. 32 patients were operated in our department.


RESULTS
29 patients died, 4 developed vegetative state and in 8 achieved a complete recovery. The highest rate of mortality was observed in patients with severe head injury, associated with pulmonary injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Associated injuries constitute a serious problem with progressively increasing car accident traumatism. Being familiar with the assessment and management protocols for multitrauma patients gives neurosurgeons a better appreciation of the interrelationship in multisystem injury and an effective sequence of diagnostics and treatment of associated head injuries.
Ivanov
I
I
Petkov
A
A
Eftimov
T
T
Marinov
N
N
Khadzhiangelov
I
I
Petrov
N
N
D000328:Adult; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D016896:Treatment Outcome