Trauma is the leading cause of death and disability in children and young adults in New South Wales and closed head injuries cause a significant proportion of this burden. Closed head injury may result in lifelong physical, cognitive, behavioural and social dysfunction for patients which in turn may place major social and financial burdens on their families and society.
Recent Australian figures indicate there are approximately 150 patients per 100,000 population admitted to hospital each year with closed head injuries.
Due to the large numbers of patients involved it has been estimated that even small improvements in closed head injury management could have significant impact. Furthermore, it has been suggested that the greatest improvements can be made in the better management of those patients with mild to moderate head injury rather than those with severe head injury.
