Traumatic brain injury patients: direct versus inter-facility transfer time to neurosurgical center and the effects on outcome

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of death world-wide. Trauma system helps quick transfer of patients to trauma centers. Lack of organized trauma system leads to delay in transferring neurosurgical patients to neurosurgical centers. The main objective of this study was to determine the time lag in TBI patients transferred from trauma scene and those referred from other health facilities to neurosurgical center and the effects on outcome and hospital stay.
Methods: It was a prospective study of TBI patients managed by our neurosurgical center from November 2010 to October 2013. Patients’ data were collected in accident and emergency, wards and out-patient clinic using structured proforma that was component of our prospective data bank that was approved by Ethics Committee. The data was analyzed using Epi Info 7 Software.
Results: Two hundred and twenty one patients were studied. There were 166 males. One hundred and one patients came direct from trauma scene. The median time to neurosurgical review was 5 hours for direct and 28 hours for referred patients. Mode of presentation did not affect the outcome and hospital stay significantly.
Conclusion: Mode of presentation did not affect the outcome and hospital stay significantly

Keywords
traumatic brain injury; direct transfer; referred; outcome; hospital stay