Outcome after complicated minor head injury

Functional outcome in patients with minor head injury with neurocranial traumatic findings on CT is largely unknown. We hypothesized that certain CT findings may be predictive of poor functional outcome.

All patients from the CT in Head Injury Patients (CHIP) study with neurocranial traumatic CT findings were included. The CHIP study is a prospective, multicenter study of consecutive patients, > or =16 years of age, presenting within 24 hours of blunt head injury, with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13-14 or a GCS score of 15 and a risk factor. Primary outcome was functional outcome according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Other outcome measures were the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), the Barthel Index (BI), and number and severity of postconcussive symptoms. The association between CT findings and outcome was assessed by using univariable and multivariable regression analysis.

GOS was assessed in 237/312 patients (76%) at an average of 15 months after injury. There was full recovery in 150 patients (63%), moderate disability in 70 (30%), severe disability in 7 (3.0%), and death in 10 (4.2%). Outcome according to the mRS and BI was also favorable in most patients, but 82% of patients had postconcussive symptoms. Evidence of parenchymal damage was the only independent predictor of poor functional outcome (odds ratio = 1.89, P = .022).

Patients with neurocranial complications after minor head injury generally make a good functional recovery, but postconcussive symptoms may persist. Evidence of parenchymal damage on CT was predictive of poor functional outcome.