title: Pattern of head injuries in Malta (EU): a small Mediterranean island.
abstract: We have reviewed all acute neurosurgical admissions between December 2007 and December 2009. Hundred and nine (46.6%) of our admissions were head injuries. A subdural haematoma(SDH) was found in 51.4%(56) of the head injuries. Of these, 50/56 presented with a Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS) of 14 to 15, 41.1% (23) of these SDH needed surgery. The commonest mode of injury was falls [67.9%(74) of head injuries]. Risk factors for falls are co-morbidities which are particular to an elderly population, these include osteoarthritis and audio/ visual impairment. Falls are more common in rural areas where elderly are more likely to feel comfortable to walk and sustain trivial falls resulting in chronic subdural heamatomas.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Unit, Mater Dei University Hospital, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agius
authors.forename: Sohail
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zrinzo
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D020199:Hematoma, Subdural, Acute / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D020200:Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008319:Malta / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult