DISABILITY AND HANDICAP 5 YEARS AFTER A HEAD-INJURY - A POPULATION-BASED STUDY

A population-based cohort of 407 head trauma patients has been studied since 1986 to estimate the prevalence of long-term disabilities and h andicaps by means of a structured questionnaire. Five years later, 64 patients were deceased and 36 were lost to follow-up. Prevalence of su bjective and behavioral complaints was high whatever the initial head trauma severity. Lethality in severe head injuries was 56%, and half o f the survivors remained disabled. In minor and moderate head injured patients, most disabilities were related to extracranial injuries. Tak ing all disabilities into consideration, each Bear 24 per 100,000 pati ents of such a population are likely to suffer from at least one long- lasting disability, including 10 per 100,000 whose disabilities are du e to extracranial injuries. Head injuries induce long lasting handicap in 9 per 100,000 habitants which is severe in 2 per 100,000. These fi gures point to the need of reinforcing preventive actions and long-ter m care of these patients. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.