Emergency medicine

Injury prevention

Psychiatry

Acquired brain injury

Traumatic brain injury

Medical emergency

Activities of daily living

Pediatrics

Physics

Rehabilitation

Poison control

Psychology

Optics

Concussion

Physical therapy

Medicine

Physical medicine and rehabilitation

Incidence (geometry)

Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine

Based on a retrospective survey of hospital admissions and autopsies the incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) for the age range 16-60 was found to be 24.9/10,000 in the Ume? district of Northern Sweden. In male youngsters aged 16-19 the incidence was remarkably high in comparison with reports from other parts of the western hemisphere. Self-reports on the prevalence of impairments and disabilities 1 1/2-3 years after the injury were obtained by a mailed questionnaire. Among the subjects with brain concussion 1/3 reported impairments and 1/10 disabilities, most commonly leisure-disability. By factor analysis impairments and disabilities could be logically grouped into three factors. Two of these factors clearly circumscribed combinations of impairments and disabilities, one of them being dominated by instrumental ADL, the other by basic self-care ADL. The third factor incorporated the classic post-concussion triad and memory. Taken together the findings indicate that many subjects with an early diagnosis of brain concussion, hospitalized for only one day, experienced losses in pre-injury functions and abilities. It is therefore suggested that not only radiologically and/or operatively confirmed TBIs but also subjects with brain concussion should be followed after discharge in order to minimize losses in social well-being.

Traumatic brain injury in northern Sweden. Incidence and prevalence of long-standing impairments and disabilities