This chapter considers the clinical and pathological features of head injury in adults and children.
Globally head injury is a major problem for health services, not only in the industrialized but also in the developing world. Every year in the UK, about 1 million patients are admitted to hospitals with head injuries of varying severity. Sixty-three percent of adults who sustain a moderate head injury and 85% who sustain severe head injuries will be disabled 1 year afterwards. Patients are frequently left with significant psychological and physical problems, which have major social and economic ramifications. A large proportion of patients who sustain significant head injuries will not be able to reintegrate into their former lives and occupations and will remain unemployed in perpetuity. The cost of head injury to society at large is enormous and a considerable burden is placed not only upon the acute hospital services but also upon rehabilitation facilities and social services.