Head Trauma, Overview

Estimates indicate that 50% of trauma-related deaths are the result of head trauma. Most head injuries are transportation related. Recently, however, violence-related head injury has become such a concern that blast injuries of the brain are now described as a specific entity. Brain trauma is typically measured using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is the preferred diagnostic imaging study. Unfavorable outcomes are associated with age, low GCS score, pupillary responses to light, low GCS motor score, electroencephalographic findings, eye movements, and imaging presentation. Preventive measures and better recognition of the type of trauma and its treatment continue to improve.