Clinical Assessment and Diagnostic Procedures in Neurotrauma

Much has been learned over the past 20 years about traumatic brain injury (TBI). The surgical management of TBI has changed little during this period and continues to concentrate on early evacuation of significant space-occupying lesions. In contrast, there have been major changes in our approach to the critical care management of TBI during this period, and this is reflected in the progressive and significant reduction in severe TBI mortality from 50% to 10% over the last 30 years. This trend in reduced mortality and improved outcomes has, for the most part, been subsequent to the use of evidence-based critical care management protocols that emphasise assessment and monitoring [1].