Features of head injury in a developing country--Taiwan (1977-1987) |
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Authors: | S T Lee T N Lui C N Chang D J Wang R F Heimburger H D Fai |
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Affiliation: | Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Medical College & Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C. |
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Abstract: | Certain features of head-injured patients admitted to the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan during the period 1977 to 1987 were reviewed. The most common causes of injury were motorcycle accidents (56.3%) and street accidents with pedestrian injury (29.47%). The age groups with the greatest incidence of injury were aged 16-20 years, 21-25 years, and 25-30 years. The pedestrian group involving the highest incidence of injury was less than 10 years of age. Overall mortality was 17.26%. The injured pedestrian group had the highest mortality (19.1%). Initial clinical assessment was recorded using the Glasgow Coma Scale. Head-injured patients with a GCS less than 8 had a mortality in the injured pedestrian group of 46%, whereas the mortality rate in the motorcycle accident group was 41%. Additional features studied were time of occurrence of injury and pattern of injury. Information gathered from this study would suggest the need to establish a Head Injury Prevention Program in Taiwan. This of course implies major cooperation among the providers of health care delivery, the medical profession, legislators, and the government at all levels. |
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