THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SPORTS-RELATED TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES IN THE UNITED-STATES - RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

We examined recent population-based data from the National Health Inte rview Survey, Consumer Product Safety Commission, and state-based trau matic brain injury (TBI) surveillance programs that provide estimates of the overall incidence of sports-related TBI in the United States. A vailable data indicate that sports-related TBI is an important public health problem because of the large number of people mho incur these i njuries each year (approximately 300,000), the generally young age of patients at the time of injury (with possible long-term disability), a nd the potential cumulative effects of repeated injuries. The importan ce of this problem indicates the need for more effective prevention me asures. The public health approach can guide efforts in injury prevent ion and control. The steps in this approach are (1) identifying the pr oblem, (2) identifying risk factors, (3) developing and testing interv entions, and (4) implementing programs and evaluating outcomes. Each o f these steps requires adequate data. This article examines the limita tions of current sports-related TBI data and suggests ways to improve data in order to develop more effective injury prevention strategies. The impact of sports-related TBI on the public indicates that this tas k deserves a high priority.