HEAD-INJURIES IN VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG-KONG

The Vietnamese refugee camps in Hong Kong represent a unique social si tuation, where as many as 55 000 people have at one time lived. The Ne urosurgical Division of the Prince of Wales Hospital receives all head injured patients from two of the largest camps for management. A retr ospective analysis was undertaken of all Vietnamese patients hospitali sed with head injuries over a four year period from January 1990 to De cember 1993. Our results showed that there was a higher incidence of h ead injuries as compared to epidemiological studies in the USA (Marsha ll, 1981) and Britain (Jennett, 1981), with the highest risk group bei ng children aged 12 years and below The majority of head injuries were minor, with the most common cause being a fall from bed. With these f indings, appropriate preventive measures were advised and steps were t aken to reduce the incidence of head injuries amongst the Vietnamese c hildren. (C) Pearson Professional 1996