An Audit on Admission of Patients with Head Injury to Teaching Hospital Karapitiya, Galle

Background: Head injury is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among the young. The aim of this audit was to analyze the head injured patients admitted to the neurosurgical unit of the Teaching Hospital Karapitiya. The analysis was according to the type of injury, age, sex distribution and the functional outcome.

Method: All details of patients admitted to the neurosurgical unit are computerized. Data collection was done retrospectively for a period of 3 months.

Results: Patients with head injury admitted to the neurosurgical unit accounted for 37% of all admissions with trauma. The most affected age group was 20-40 years. Out of the 108 patients admitted, 91 were males giving a male: female ratio of 5.3:1. 15 patients died. Road traffic accidents (RTA) were the commonest cause of head injury.

Conclusion: Head injury is mainly due to road traffic accidents and affects the young adult male population.  

Key Words: Head injury, Glasgow coma scale.

DOI: 10.4038/slja.v17i2.1297

Sri Lankan Journal of Anaesthesiology Vol.17(2) 2009 p.51-54