Survey of severe head injury treatment in Brazil.

Head injury has been one of the most important public health problems, with high morbidity and mortality rates. In Brazil, the DATASUS (official government databank) reported 63,919 deaths caused by head injury during the year 2001. Increasing knowledge on traumatic brain injury physiopathology made possible the establishment of better guidelines for its treatment. However, there are no consistent data regarding the implementation of these guidelines in the management of head injury in Brazil.