Summary
Analysis of minor head injuries treated in an Accident & Emergency Department
Cubián González I, Franco Hernández JA, Barona Ruiz A, García Hernández A
Affiliation of the authors
DEPARMENT OF SAN MILLÁN-SAN PEDRO HOSPITAL, LOGROÑO, SPAIN. DEPARTMENT OF MIGUEL SERVET UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, ZARAGOZA, SPAIN. PRIMARY HEALTH CARE DEPARTMENT, LOGROÑO, SPAIN. DEPARTMENT OF ANAESTHETICS, MIGUEL SERVET UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, ZARAGOZA, SPAIN
DOI
Quote
Cubián González I, Franco Hernández JA, Barona Ruiz A, García Hernández A. Analysis of minor head injuries treated in an Accident & Emergency Department. Emergencias. 2007;19:21-4
Summary
Objetive: To observe the characteristics of minor head injuries
(HI) receiving treatment at our Accident and Emergency Department
and their evolution in the short term.
Methods: Study included patients over the age of 14 who had sustained
a minor HI, had a cranial CT scan and had been admitted for observation
in the Short Stay Unit (SSU). Descriptive and retrospective
analysis.
Results: A total of 172 patients were included in the study. 91% presented
with Glasgow 15 and 71% were male. Brief loss of consciousness
(70%) and amnesia (52%) were the two most frequent alertness
clinical findings. The CT scans were normal in 88% of the patients.
Only 2 patients admitted for observations needed to be referred to a
neurosurgical centre.
Conclusions: Clinical guidelines must be set up for the treatment of minor
HI. SSUs are an adequate location for the treatment of minor HIs
in the absence of a neurosurgical department.