Alcohol intoxication and lack of helmet use are common in electric scooter-related traumatic brain injuries: a consecutive patient series from a tertiary university hospital

Purpose Clinicians have increasingly encountered traumatic brain injuries (TBI) related to electric scooter (ES) accidents. In this study, we aim to identify the modifiable risk factors for ES-related TBIs. Methods A retrospective cohort of consecutive patients treated for ES-related traumatic brain injuries in a tertiary university hospital between May 2019 and September 2021 was identified and employed for the study. The characteristics of the accidents along with the clinical and imaging findings of the injuries were collected from the patient charts. Results During the study period, 104 TBIs related to ES accidents were identified. There was a high occurrence of accidents late at night and on Saturdays. In four cases, the patient’s helmet use was mentioned (3.8%). Seventy-four patients (71%) were intoxicated. At the scene of the accident, seventy-seven (74%) of the patients had a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13–15, three patients (3%) had a score of 9–12, and two patients (2%) had a score of 3–8. The majority (83%) of TBIs were diagnosed as concussions. Eighteen patients had evidence of intracranial injuries in the imagining. Two patients required neurosurgical procedures. The estimated population standardized incidence increased from 7.0/100,000 (95% CI 3.5–11/100,000) in 2019 to 27/100,000 (95% CI 20–34/100,000) in 2021. Conclusions Alcohol intoxication and the lack of a helmet were common in TBIs caused by ES accidents. Most of the accidents occurred late at night. Targeting these modifiable factors could decrease the incidence of ES-related TBIs.

Burden of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Children and Adolescents in Europe: Hospital Discharges, Deaths and Years of Life Lost

Children and adolescents are at high risk of traumatic brain injuries (TBI). To identify those most at risk across Europe, a comprehensive epidemiological study on the burden of TBI is needed. Our aim was to estimate the burden of TBI in the pediatric and adolescent population of Europe by calculating rates of hospital-based incidence, death and years of life lost (YLL) due to TBI in 33 countries of Europe in 2014 (most recent available data). We conducted a cross-sectional observational, population-based study. All cases with TBI in the age range 0 to 19, registered in the causes of death databases or hospital discharge databases of 33 European countries were included. Crude and age-standardized rates of hospital discharges, deaths and YLLs due to TBI; and pooled estimates for all countries combined were calculated. TBI caused 2303 deaths (71% in boys), 154,282 YLLs (68% in boys) and 441,368 hospital discharges (61% in boys) in the population of 0–19 year-olds. We estimated pooled age-standardized rates of death (2.8, 95% CI: 2.4–3.3), YLLs (184.4, 95% CI: 151.6–217.2) and hospital discharges (344.6, 95% CI: 250.3–438.9) for the analyzed countries in 2014. The population of 15–19 year-olds had the highest rates of deaths and YLLs, and the population of 0–4 year-olds had the highest rate of hospital discharges. Detailed estimates of hospital discharge, death and YLL rates based on high-quality, standardized data may be used to develop health policies, aid decision-making and plan prevention.

What Is the Evidence on Natural Recovery Over the Year Following Sports-Related and Non-sports-Related Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Scoping Review

Background: Treatment approaches often differ dependent upon whether a person experiences a sports-related or a non-sports-related mild traumatic brain injury. It remains unclear if recovery from these injuries is comparable or unique to context of the injury.Objective: To identify knowledge gaps on self-reported outcomes and trajectories between sports- and non-sports-related mild traumatic brain injuries and how they are assessed in adults.Methods: This scoping review used a systematic search of key electronic databases, including PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Embase, MEDLINE, and CINAHL for articles published in 1937 until March 10, 2021. Articles were included if they were available in English; full text published in a peer-reviewed journal; had a prospective or retrospective study design; reported data on mild TBI cases >16 years of age, and included data from at least two time points on self-reported outcomes within 12 months post-injury. A standardized data extraction spreadsheet was used to determine the participant characteristics, definitions, assessment methods, outcomes, and recovery time frames.Results: Following removal of duplicates, the search strategy elicited 6,974 abstracts. Following abstract review, 174 were retained for full text review. Of the 42 articles that met inclusion criteria, 18 were sports related (15 in the USA and three in Canada) and 24 were general population studies (six in USA, three in Canada, three in Australasia, nine in Europe, two in Taiwan, and one in Morocco). Direct comparison in recovery trajectories between the sport and general population studies was difficult, given notable differences in methodology, definitions, types of outcome measures, and timing of follow-up assessments. Only one article reported on both sports-related and non-sports-related traumatic brain injuries separately at comparable timepoints. This study revealed no differences in recovery time frames or overall symptom burden.Discussion: Whilst there is a clear benefit in researching specific subpopulations in detail, standardized outcome measures and follow-up time frames are needed across contexts to facilitate understanding of similarities and differences between sports- and non-sports-related mild traumatic brain injuries to inform clinical treatment.

Prevalence and Duration of Post-Concussive Headaches in a Pediatric Sports Clinic: A Cross-sectional Study

ObjectiveWe aim to identify the potential risk factors associated with increased susceptibility for persistent post-concussive headaches.BackgroundConcussions are common, but complex, traumatic brain injuries seen in pediatric athletes of all ages & skill levels & occur in a wide variety of athletic settings. These mild traumatic brain injuries often have neurologic sequelae, including headaches. Although athletes are advised to rest, duration of post-concussive symptoms is often unpredictable.Design/MethodsWe conducted a cross sectional study on patients with head injury aged 5–18 years presented to pediatric concussion clinic (N = 603) from September 2013 to Dec 2018. We excluded patients with skull fractures and intracranial hemorrhage. The data was compiled & analyzed using frequency, Pearson correlation test, chi square & ANOVA test using IBM SPSS- 26.ResultsPatient cohort consisted of 364 males & 239 females. The age range for males was 5–18 years (Mean age ± SD: 13.45 ± 2.86) & for females was 6–18 years (Mean age ± SD: 13.97 ± 2.84). There was statically significant association between various age groups & presence of headache at 3 & 6 months (p < 0.05). Out of all ages, age group 5–8 years had highest risk of persistent headache while the age group 14–18 years reported headaches at 3 months but then resolution of symptoms by one year (p < 0.05). Females were more likely than males (of all ages) to have persistent headaches despite treatment (p = 0.00). There was also a statistically significant difference between loss of consciousness, prior history of headaches & prior history of concussions towards the development of persistent headaches (p < 0.05). Furthermore, football, soccer and basketball had significantly more headaches compared to other sports related injuries (p = 0.001).ConclusionsThere was a statistically higher risk of developing persistent headaches for females and those with a history of prior headache, prior concussion, younger age, and those playing football, soccer or basketball.

The Outcome of Cervical Spine Injury Associated with Traumatic Brain Injuries: Tertiary Care Hospital Study

Objective: Outcome of cervical spine injury associated with traumatic brain injuries. Materials & Methods: This study is a cross-sectional descriptive study that was performed at the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre, Karachi. 158 total patients were included in the study, this study by non-probability consecutive sampling. The diagnosis was based primarily on a CT scan brain plain and an x-ray of the cervical spine of all the patients who were admitted to the ward. Results: Among 158, the age distribution of the patient was observed as 43(27%)patients presented as less than 20 years, 32(20%) were between the age of 21-30 years range, 28(18%) patients were ranged between 31-40 years, 16(10%) patients aged in a range of 41-50 years while 39(25%) were above 50 years. Head injury severity was observed at 47% as mild head injury, 32% as moderate injury and 21% had a severe head injury while cervical injury in association with traumatic brain injury was found in 10% of patients. Conclusion: The prevalence of cervical traumatic injury associated with moderate to severe head injury remained similar in the world overall with minute differences in the percentages that we have noticed in our study. The severity of the head injury is directly proportional to cervical injury.