Traumatic brain injury registries in the United States: an overview

In the United States, injuries account for more death and disability in the one to 44 year age group than all communicable diseases and other conditions combined. Concerns about this, about the cost of acute and rehabilitation care after injury, and about quality of life for survivors are mounting, as epitomized by Federal Government initiatives. Public health surveillance of injuries such as traumatic brain injury has recently begun to evolve, following decades of experience with similar methods for infectious and chronic disease conditions. In 1985, the Centers for Disease Control began to promote the development of surveillance systems for 'sentinel injuries' at both the state and national level. Many states have developed, or are in the process of developing, statewide registries for traumatic brain injury. The rationale behind the establishment of these registries is fourfold: 1) to identify injured persons in order to facilitate and coordinate their rehabilitation and other needed services; 2) to gather data for injury prevention and control; 3) to gather data for health care planning; and 4) to evaluate services provided to injured persons. Purpose, content, and scope of these registries are presented in detail.