[Morbidity and mortality in craniocerebral trauma: epidemiologic study in Cantabria].

: Morbidity and mortality of the patients with head injury (HI) admitted to our institution during one year were prospectively evaluated. Four hundred and seventy seven fulfilled the inclusion criterial this represents an incidence of HI of 91/100,000/year for our community. Male/female ratio was 2,9/1. Traffic accidents were the most common cause of HI (60%). The clinical evaluation at admission with the Glasgow coma scale classified 88% of HIs as mild and 12% as moderate or severe. Recovery, following the Glasgow outcome scale, was good in 97%. The greater initial severity of HI and the lack of protective measures were respectively associated with a poorer clinical outcome and with a higher incidence of cranial and cerebral lesions. There were eigth hospital deahts, all in the group with severe scores; thus, the mortality rate in this group was 33%. Deaths outside the hospital were 95, i.e., 92% of the overall mortality. Our results confirm the public health relevance of HI, the very high prognostic value of the current evaluation scales and the insufficient use of protective measures in our area. Finally, the high rates or death outside the hospital suggest that emergency medical care outside the hospital is poor.