Citation

Ross SE, O'Malley KF, Unkle DW, Talucci RC. Proc. Assoc. Adv. Automot. Med. Annu. Conf. 1988; 32: 313-318.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Ethanol abuse is a significant underlying factor in accidental injury. Discrimination of an altered sensorium due to ethanol intoxication from that following brain injury remains a clinical problem which consumes significant diagnostic and therapeutic efforts. Evaluation of the patient population treated after blunt injury at a level I regional trauma center revealed a 13 percent incidence of over-triage for suspected head injury, in individuals intoxicated with ethanol. Although this did not represent an overwhelming drain on the center's resources, it remains a substantial problem on a national basis.