How important is history of unconsciousness in head injury patients?

J Indian Med Assoc. 2001 Feb;99(2):81-3.

Abstract

A total of 100 patients of head injury were studied. They all underwent thorough clinical and neurological examination, skull radiography and CT scan of head. And with the help of all these parameters an evaluation was done to find out the importance of history of unconsciousness on risk of intracranial complications. A lot of controversies exist about detection of factors that make a patient of head injury a high risk candidate for developing intracranial complications. Young active population was the most commonly affected group in head injury with male preponderance at all ages. Roadside accident found to be the main cause of head trauma in adults while fall from height in paediatric age group. Although Glassgow Coma Index (GCI) was found to be a good predictor for intracranial complications as well as final outcome in patients with total score of 12 or less but it was not equally good in patients of minor head injury (GCI = 13-15). Similarly history of unconsciousness was not found to be correlating well with risk of intracranial complications but longer duration of unconsciousness was found to be a poor prognostic index.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Concussion / complications
  • Brain Concussion / diagnosis*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Glasgow Coma Scale
  • Humans
  • India
  • Male
  • Neurologic Examination*
  • Risk Factors
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*
  • Unconsciousness / diagnosis*
  • Unconsciousness / etiology