Severe traumatic brain injury in Switzerland - feasibility and first results of a cohort study

von Elm, Erik
Osterwalder, Joseph J
Graber, Claire
Schoettker, Patrick
Stocker, Reto
Zangger, Peter
Vuadens, Phillipe
Egger, Matthias
Walder, Bernhard

Publication date

January 2008

Publisher

EMH Schweizerischer Ärzteverlag

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We aimed to study the incidence and outcome of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Switzerland and to test the feasibility of a large cohort study with case identification in the first 24 hours and 6-month follow-up. METHODS: From January to June 2005, we consecutively enrolled and followed up all persons with severe TBI (Abbreviated Injury Score of the head region >3 and Glasgow Coma Scale <9) in the catchment areas of 3 Swiss medical centres with neurosurgical facilities. The primary outcome was the Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOSE) after 6 months. Secondary outcomes included survival, Functional Independence Mea - sure (FIM), and health-related quality of life (SF-12) at defined time-points up to 6 months after injury....