[Head trauma in a general surgery department: observations, diagnostic and therapeutic indications].

The authors reviewed the records of 927 patients admitted to Surgical Clinic University of L'Aquila from November 1986 to July 1990 with head trauma. The 5.6% (52 patients) had skull fractures. 23 (2.4%) patients sustained significant intracranial sequelae from their injuries, but only 4 (17.3%) of these also sustained fractures, 17 did not. Of the four fractures 1 were simple, 2 was depressed and 1 was basilar. The patients (17) without a skull fracture and positive CT were transferred to a neurosurgical department, where 12 underwent operation. The patients (4) with a skull fracture and positive CT and 2 patients with a depressed skull fracture and negative CT were transferred to a neurosurgical department where 5 (except 1 patient with simple fracture) underwent operation. The severity of coma was evaluated according to Glasgow Coma Scale (G.C.S.). The 2.4% of patients had the Glasgow Coma Scale = or less than 7. The CT or MNR are indicate in the presence of neurologic abnormalities. Overall mortality rate was about 0.53%. In the severe head trauma (G.C.S. = or less than 7) was of 17,3.the skull radiography is not indicated of routine and are performed for the evaluation of depressed fractures, of fracture of the cranial base and of cervical vertebrae: the MNR was found to be superior to CT and to be very effective in the detection of traumatic head lesions: the Glasgow Coma Scale is important for monitoring, stratification and prognostic evaluation of patients.