EPIDEMIOLOGY OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS INSOUTH-WESTERN SWEDEN

The objectives of this study were to outline the incidence, gender dis tribution, external causes, severity and early outcome of traumatic br ain injury (TBI). The subjects were children and adolescents in the so uthwestern Swedish health care region, aged 0-17 y in 1987-1991 and fu lfilling the criteria for TBI. Identification was made from the discha rge registers of the hospitals in the region admitting patients with T BI, and outcome data were obtained from medical records. The mean inci dence rate was 12/100 000 for TBI. The dominant external cause was tra ffic (60%), followed by falls (22%). At discharge, 49% of these surviv ing were healthy, 48% suffered from one functional impairment and 52% suffered from two or more impairments. In conclusion, although the inc idence rate of TBI is low in Sweden, the condition causes permanent fu nctional impairment in 6/100 000 cases every year.