The incidence of traumatic brain injury in Tehran, Iran

ABSTRACT

Primary objective: To assess the demographics, causes, treatment and outcome of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Tehran, Iran.

Research design and methods: This retrospective study was conducted in a major trauma centre in south of Tehran using clinical data registry of 3818 traumatic patients who admitted to the hospital from 2009 to 2013. The main factors measured were the external cause of trauma, the type of TBI, and treatment outcome.

Main outcomes and results: The highest rate of TBIs occurred in age categories 21‒30 (31.5%), 31‒40 (19.2%) and 41‒50 (12.3%) years. Transport accidents were the most common cause of TBIs (2915 cases, 76.4%). The most frequent types of head injuries were subarachnoid (1676, 43.9%) subdural (1140, 29.8%), and epidural haemorrhage (974, 25.5%). A binomial logistic regression showed that mortality (612 patients, 16%) was significantly associated with the external cause of TBI, the type of main and additional head injuries, cervical spine injury, intra-abdominal organ injury, having a brain or abdominal surgery, and length of hospital stay.

Conclusion: The mechanism of TBI, the type of head injuries, and accompanying spine and abdominal injuries were significant prognostic factors in traumatic patients.

KEYWORDS:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• epidemiology
• mortality
• head injuries
• accident

Acknowledgment

The authors wish to thank Rasoul-e-Akram Hospital Clinical Research Development Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences for technically supported implementation of the project.