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Mild head injury: a misnomer
A Tellier1, L C Della Malva, A Cwinn
1Department of Psychology, Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Atellier@ogh.on.ca
Abstract:
Despite controversy surrounding the concept of mild head injury (MHI), it is becoming evident that even a head trauma termed 'mild' may result in significant behavioural sequelae. The present study was an attempt at documenting structural cerebral damage, by way of computerized tomography, in a group of patients having suffered a MHI as defined by the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score. A 1-year retrospective chart review identified 80 MHI patients who presented to the Emergency department of a lead hospital for trauma. Sixty-six per cent of these MHI patients were scanned. Evidence of intracranial abnormalities was obtained in 31% of the overall sample. Patients with a lower GCS score had a higher percentage of abnormal scans than those with a GCS score of either 14 or 15. The present findings suggest that a MHI can be associated with significant morbidity, and that a MHI group does not constitute a homogeneous pool of patients.
Insights
Even mild head injuries (MHI) can cause significant behavioral changes and brain damage. A study found 31% of MHI patients had abnormal brain scans, indicating varied patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Trauma Research
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Mild head injury (MHI) is controversial, yet may lead to significant behavioral issues.
- Assessing structural cerebral damage in MHI patients is crucial for understanding outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document structural cerebral damage using computerized tomography in patients with mild head injury (MHI).
- To investigate the relationship between Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores and intracranial abnormalities in MHI patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 80 MHI patients presenting to a trauma emergency department over 1 year.
- Computerized tomography (CT) scans were performed on 66% of the identified MHI patients.
- Analysis of CT scan results to identify intracranial abnormalities.
Main Results:
- Intracranial abnormalities were detected in 31% of the overall MHI sample.
- Patients with lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores exhibited a higher incidence of abnormal scans compared to those with GCS scores of 14 or 15.
- Mild head injury (MHI) is associated with significant morbidity.
Conclusions:
- Mild head injury (MHI) can result in substantial structural cerebral damage and associated morbidity.
- The MHI patient group is heterogeneous, with varying degrees of injury severity and outcomes.
- Lower GCS scores in MHI patients correlate with a greater likelihood of detectable intracranial abnormalities.