Abstract:
ABSTRACT
Background: Head injury (HI) has been one among leading causes
of morbidity and mortality worldwide especially in the peripheries
area. In South Borneo, 9.4% of trauma cases was a head injury.
Especially, Tanah Bumbu Regency, one of peripheries area in South
Borneo ranks third for head injuries after Tabalong and Tanah Laut
Regency in 2007.
Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of
head injury patient and referral number at Dr. H. Andi Abdurrahman
Noor general hospital.
Methods: All head injury patients admitted to the emergency
department (ED) of Dr. H. Andi Abdurrahman Noor general
Hospital in a one-year period (2017) were registered in this
retrospective study. Using the total population sampling method,
413 cases of head injury during the period were included as a
subject of study.
Result: This study showed that mild head injury was the most cases
of head injury with 325 cases (78.2%). 61 patients were referred to
a higher trauma center in 2017. Head injury was most common in
11‑20 years old age group. Men also had higher incident rate compared
to women (2:1). Most of the patients were a nonstate employee. Head
injury is commonly caused by traffic accident.
Conclusion: This study shows that characteristics of HI in the
peripheries area such Tanah Bumbu regency are no different from other
countries. Our findings suggest that several prevention steps should be
taken to reduce the number of head injury based on the distribution
and characteristics of head injury sustainers.
