Patterns of Head Injury at Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: The incidences of head injuries are growing with increasing number of high speed motor vehicle, more movement of the public and mechanization in industry. Head injury is most common causes of mortality in road traffic accidents and fall from Height. This is because of this special anatomical location of the Head in our body. This study is being taken into account to explore and evaluate pattern of Head injuries in victims reporting to the tertiary health care Hospital. Methods: This study was a prospective analysis of head injury reporting to Accident & Emergency Department, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, Dehradun, India, a tertiary care Hospital during the period between 2011 to 2013. Results: Most common cause of Head Injury victims reporting to the tertiary care hospital was Road Traffic Accident. Male victims were commonly getting Head injury due to Road Traffic Accident followed by Occupational Head injury, while Female victims were getting Head injury due to fall from Height followed by Road Traffic Accident. Common age group involved in Head injury was of 21-40 years, winter season (October to February) recorded maximum number of cases. It was clearly reflected that in Head injury, commonest lesion was scalp laceration followed by fractures to the skull (commonest in intra-cranial lesions). However, in the most cases, the skull fractures were found at multiple sites. Sub Dural Haemorrhage was commonest intra cranial hemorrhage followed by Sub Arachnoid haemorrhage in the case sustaining the Head Injury. Conclusion: Road traffic accidents are most common cause involved in Head injury and the males are more prone to get head injury. By establishing good pre-hospital care and provision of efficient and well organized trauma services at Road side can minimize or prevent mortality aroused from road traffic accidents and fall from Height.