Data from the Head Injury Task Force, National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Strokes, estimate that there are 2,000,000 cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the United States per year, with approximately 500,000 patients requiring hospitalization. About 100,000 Americans die as a result of this brain injury, with most of these deaths occurring within several hours from the time of the accident. Of the survivors, 70,000 to 90,000 will experience some sort of lifetime debilitation, and 2000 will live in a persistent vegetative state. The economic cost of TBI in the United States is estimated to exceed $25 billion annually.

There has been considerable emphasis on elucidating the pathophysiology of brain injury, and determining management strategies for patients with moderate and severe head trauma. <sup>25 Hockberger R.S., Schwartz B. Blunt head injury: A spectrum of disease Ann Emerg Med 1986 ;  15 : 202

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> Significant controversy continues regarding the best strategy for patients with mild head injury, particularly because of concerns that these patients may harbor an intracranial lesion that requires neurosurgic intervention. In addition, because of the large numbers of patients with mild TBI, the social and economic consequences of patients with disabling symptoms cannot be ignored. Because most patients with mild TBI present to the emergency department (ED), it is important that ED physicians have clear direction on how to proceed in their evaluation. This article reviews the prevalence of mild head injury, the pathophysiology, and discusses the indications for cranial CT scanning.