CT findings in alcohol intoxicated patients after mild brain injury

OBJECTIVE: To find out severity of brain injury in alcohol intoxicated patients after mild (GCS 13-15) brain injury. METHODS: A retrospective study of all patients older than 15 years in whom cranial CT (CCT) scan was performed between October 2006 and September 2007. Information of alcohol intoxication, injury mechanism, details of facial/head injuries, admission GCS, CCT findings and type of treatment were retrieved from patients' medical records. RESULTS: There were 151 alcohol intoxicated patients. Thirty four (22.5%) patients had positive CCT scans for brain injury or basal/vault fracture. One hundred and three (68.2%) patients had no signs of head/facial injury on CCT scans, 14 (9.3%) patients had fractures of nasal bones or maxillary/frontal sinuses only. Five (3.3%) patients were operated, 3 (2%) for depressed skull fracture and 2 (1.3%) for subdural hematoma. The most frequent findings on CCT scan were vault fracture in 21 patients (61.8%) and subarachnoid haemorrhage in 15 patients (44.1%). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of brain injury in alcohol intoxicated patients after mild brain injury was 22.5% with the need for neurosurgical intervention in 3.3%.