Effect of skull fracture on pre-interventional glasgow coma scale and survival period-an analysis of 211 fatal cases of traumatic head injury Hallikeri Vinay. R.1, Gouda Hareesh. S.2,* 1Assistant Professor, Dept. of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Anna Medical College, Sans Saunci Road, Montangne Blanche, Mauritius 2Associate Professor, Dept. of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Fr Muller Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India *Corresponding Address, Dr. Hareesh. S. Gouda Associate Professor, Dept. of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Fr Muller Medical College, Kankanady, Mangalore-575 002, Karnataka, India, Telephone: +919620237977, E-mail: hareeshfmt@rediffmail.com
Online published on 22 January, 2018. Abstract Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) has been widely used as a measure to record the level of consciousness in patients of traumatic head injury. Few studies have beenreported regarding the effect of skull fractures on pre-interventional GCS score and duration of survival in cases of traumatic head injury. The present study includes the retrospective analysis of 211 cases of fatal traumatic head injury, to know the effect of skull fracture on pre interventional GCS score and duration of survival. Preinterventional GCS score was defined as the first GCS score obtained at the emergency department. About 80% of victims with skull fracture and about 90% victims without skull fracture had GCS of less than 8. Mean and median survival period in cases with skull fracture were 4 days and 3 days respectively and the maximum survival period was 28 days; whereas, mean and median survival period in cases without skull fracture were 4.2 days and 3 days respectively and maximum survival period was 19 days. Results of the current study indicate that the presence of skull fracture reduces the severity of head injury, but, it has no significant effect on the survival period. Top Keywords Head injury, Trauma, Skull fracture, Glassgow Coma Scale, Survival Period. Top |