Research Article

Prehospital Predictors for Urgent Neurosurgical Intervention in the Head Trauma Patient: A 2-Year Multicenter Retrospective Study

Table 1

General characteristics of all head trauma patients.

VariablesParametersOverall (N = 7930)

SexFemale39.5% (N = 3134)
Male60.5% (N = 4795)

Age (years)N7903
Mean (SD)49.392 (20.861)
Median (IQR)47 (31–65)
Range5–104

Mechanism of traumaFall46.4% (N = 3588)
Road traffic collision16.9% (N = 1304)
Beating13.2% (N = 1023)
Hitting9.4% (N = 725)
Fainting5.7% (N = 442)
Epilepsy5.7% (N = 438)
Pedestrian hit by a car1.9% (N = 143)
Crushing between two objects0.1% (N = 9)
Kick0.1% (N = 6)
Head trauma during jump into the water0.1% (N = 6)
Bruised by an animal0.1% (N = 6)
Rape0% (N = 1)
Other0.4% (N = 37)

Arrival on the day of injuryYes79.4% (N = 6300)
No20.6% (N = 1630)

Time from injury to arrival (days)N1625
Mean (SD)4.676 (12.102)
Median (IQR)2 (1–4)

Glasgow Coma ScaleN5671
Mean (SD)14.799 (1.142)
Median (IQR)15 (15–15)
Range3–15

Loss of consciousnessYes42.2% (N = 2413)
Recalls partially0.5% (N = 26)
No57.3% (N = 3277)

AlcoholYes21.4% (N = 1700)
No78.6% (N = 6230)

Alcohol (mg/dL)N440
Mean (SD)304.762 (107.588)
Median (IQR)306.5 (247–377.75)
Range20–592

Neurological abnormalitiesYes7.1% (N = 551)
No92.9% (N = 7260)

Abnormalities found in physical examinationYes65.2% (N = 4955)
No34.8% (N = 2650)

ComplaintsYes48% (N = 3649)
No52% (N = 3951)

The number of abnormalities found in physical examinationN4955
Mean (SD)1.49 (0.855)
Median (IQR)1 (1-2)
Range1–10

The number of complaintsN3649
Mean (SD)1.956 (1.045)
Median (IQR)2 (1–3)
Range1–10

Radiological examination (more than head CT scan)Yes59.4% (N = 4710)
No40.6% (N = 3215)

CT angiographyYes0.2% (N = 15)
No99.8% (N = 7915)

X-rayYes44% (N = 3492)
No56% (N = 4438)

CT other than head CTYes28.8% (N = 2282)
No71.2% (N = 5648)

UltrasoundYes13.6% (N = 1075)
No86.4% (N = 6855)

Trauma CTYes1.3% (N = 101)
No98.7% (N = 7829)

ClassificationC1—urgent surgery0.8% (N = 64)
C2—delayed surgery2.2% (N = 177)
C3—24-hour follow-up1.4% (N = 108)
C4—no neurosurgical indication for hospitalization but patients were on anticoagulants, dangerous mechanism of trauma, were severely vomiting, confused, or/and without good family care0.1% (N = 6)
Abnormalities in radiological examinations other than head CT18.8% (N = 1487)
No abnormalities76.7% (N = 6075)

Abnormalities in radiological examinationsYes23.2% (N = 1841)
No76.8% (N = 6089)

The number of abnormalities found in radiological examinationN1841
Mean (SD)1.734 (1.381)
Median (IQR)1 (1-2)
Range1–13

Referral to another wardYes11.2% (N = 887)
No88.8% (N = 7034)

Final patient statusDischarge88% (N = 6969)
Referral to another ward8.5% (N = 672)
Patient left the ward1.5% (N = 120)
Death0.8% (N = 66)
Patient did not give consent for hospitalization1.2% (N = 94)