Authors

  1. Azeredo, Ruth DrPH
  2. Fitzgerald, James Jr DO
  3. Bobeck, Donald W. MD
  4. Baughman, Dee DO

Article Content

Objective: Determine head injury self-reported sequelae/problems, services referral, if services accessed, and service needs. Design: Follow-up study. Setting: Hospital emergency departments. Participants: Patients (N = 1098) treated/discharged from 3 emergency departments. Interventions: Provision of head injury information/referral to services. Methods: Criteria included brain injury ICD-9-CM codes, facial fractures, lacerations, and 1 or more clinical signs/symptoms. Demographics, contact information, cause of injury, radiology/imaging, and discharge codes were provided by staff to project director. Follow-up conducted to determine physical/cognitive/behavioral problems; difficulties performing daily activities; services referral; if services accessed; and who to contact for help with problems. Results: AIS scores indicated that 9% had minor, 91% moderate, and 1% severe injury. Also, 18% had loss of consciousness (LOC), 72% suffered concussion, and 17% suffered nonspecific brain injury. First follow-up postinjury ranged from 2 to 18 weeks. A total of 157 persons (14%) were excluded from follow-up; 368 (33%) were unable to contact with minimum 8 attempts; and follow-up was completed on 573 (52%). Of these, 247 (43%) reported 1 or more problems including headaches (73%), tiredness (41%), neck pain (39%), dizziness (37%), weakness (24%), memory (23%), and vision changes (22%). Factors statistically significant among persons with problems included age, LOC, concussion with LOC, and AIS = 2 (moderate injury). Gender and weeks postinjury follow-up were not significant. Conclusions: This study found that 23% of patients reported problems at first follow-up and 20% at second follow-up; the majority of patients did not know where to seek services. Emergency department staff should be trained to provide patients at discharge with basic information about short- and long-term effects of traumatic brain injury and services/resources contacts.