title: Changing spectrum of traumatic head injuries: Demographics and outcome analysis in a tertiary care referral center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the causes, epidemiological characteristics and clinical outcomes related to cases of head trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The retrospective study was conducted at Combined Military Hospital, Quetta, and comprised data from September, 2007, to September, 2011. Treatments offered to each patient and their outcomes were recorded. Glasgow coma scale score was noted on admission and Glasgow outcome scale was used to determine the outcome at 6-month follow-up. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS statistics 21.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1056 patients in the study, 805(76%) were males. Majority of patients 498(47.2%) belonged to 21-40 years age group, with average age of 27±16 years. The most common cause identified were road traffic accidents 461(43.6%), followed by fall injuries 266(25%). Bomb blast injuries were 60(5.6%). The commonest finding on computed tomography scan was contusion in 124(11.7%) patients. Of the total, 709(63.9%) patients were treated conservatively. Major surgical procedure was done in 125 (11.8%) patients. Excellent recovery was seen in 907(85.8%) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our environment, risk of head injury is increasing. The government should take measures for the improvement of infrastructure and strict implementation of traffic laws. Trauma centres with trained staff need to be ensured.
authors.affiliation: Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Junaid
authors.affiliation: Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Afeera
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Afsheen
authors.affiliation: Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ayesha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tahir
authors.affiliation: Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Syed Sarmad
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bukhari
authors.affiliation: Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Anisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalsoom
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D000072700:Conservative Treatment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Head trauma, Cortical contusions, Traumatic brain injuries, Blast injuries.