@article{ref1,
title="Prognosis of traumatic head injury in South Tunisia: a multivariate analysis of 437 cases",
journal="Journal of trauma",
year="2004",
author="Bahloul, M. and Chelly, Hedi and Ben Hmida, Mohamed and Ben Hamida, Chokri and Ksibi, Hichem and Kallel, Hatem and Chaari, Adel and Kassis, Mazen and Rekik, Noureddine and Bouaziz, Mounir",
volume="57",
number="2",
pages="255-261",
abstract="BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine predictive factors of mortality after posttraumatic brain injury. METHODS: A retrospective study conducted over a 3-year period (1997-1999) involved 437 adult patients with head injury admitted to the intensive care unit of a university hospital in Sfax, Tunisia. Basic demographic, clinical, biologic, and radiologic data were recorded at admission and during the intensive care unit stay. RESULTS: This study included 393 men (90%) and 44 women with a mean age of 36 +/- 17 years. Traffic accidents were the main cause of trauma (85.6%). In 58% of the cases, the injury was serious (Glasgow Coma Score, <8). The mean simplified acute physiology score was 39 +/- 15, and the mean Injury Severity Score was 34.5 +/- 17. Of the 437 patients, 127 (29.1%) died. According to multivariate analysis, the factors that correlated with a poor prognosis were age older than 40 years (p < 0.01), simplified acute physiology score exceeding 40 (p < 0.001), Glasgow Coma Score lower than 7 (p = 0.03), intracranial mass lesion (p = 0.02), a cerebral herniation (p < 0.001), diabetes insipidus (p < 0.001), and blood sugar level higher than 10 mmol/L (p < 0. 001). CONCLUSIONS: In Tunisia, head injury is a frequent cause of hospitalization, comprising 14.4% of all adult admissions. It is observed most often among young patients involved in traffic accidents. The short-term prognosis is poor, with a high (29%) mortality rate, and determined by demographic, clinical, radiologic, and biologic factors. Prevention is highly advised.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-5282",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}