Predictors of Outcome After Traumatic Brain Injuries: Experience of a Tertiary Health Care Institution in Northwest India.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major health issue in developing nations such as India along with underreporting of TBI data because of a lack of major studies targeting the population with TBI. Various lacunae from field to tertiary centers are responsible for this significant burden of TBIs. We studied the epidemiologic profile of 1150 patients with TBI including the predictors of the outcome of TBIs in a tertiary health care institution in North India to identify the modifiable factors that could be used to improve the outcome and reduce the TBI burden.

METHODS: Patients presenting with TBI to a level I trauma center were identified and enrolled in the study. Data regarding patient information from accident to discharge or death were collected as per designed format and analyzed to determine outcome predictors.

RESULTS: Mean age was 36 ± 15.8 years and 84.6% of patients were male; road traffic accident was the mode of injury in 64.26% of cases. Lack of adequate prehospital care was seen in our study. Glasgow Coma Scale score on admission, Injury Severity Score, and Rotterdam CT score were found to be the 3 statistically significant predictors of outcome in patients with TBI.

CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge about the causes, pattern, and distribution of patients with TBI from this study is helpful in policy making, research, health management, and rehabilitation at the national level in ours and in other nations.