Children and youth with ‘unspecified injury to the head’: implications for traumatic brain injury research and surveillance

摘要: The case definition for traumatic brain injury (TBI) often includes ‘unspecified to the head’ diagnostic codes. However, research has shown that inclusion of these codes leads false positives. As such, it is important determine degree which affect overall numbers and profiles TBI population. objective this paper was profile compare demographic clinical characteristics, intention mechanism injury, discharge disposition hospitalized children youth aged 19 years under using (1) an inclusive included codes, (2) a restricted excluded head ‘diagnostic (3) only definition. National Ambulatory Care Reporting System Discharge Abstract Database from Ontario, Canada, were used identify cases between fiscal years 2003/04 2009/10. rate episodes care (2,667.2 per 100,000) 1.65 times higher than (1,613.3 100,000). ‘Unspecified made up 39.5 % all identified with Exclusion code in resulted significantly proportion patients intensive units (p < .0001; 18.5 % vs. 22.2 %) discharged non-home setting 9.9 % 11.6 %). Inclusion significant changes numbers, healthcare use, causes TBI. Careful consideration population important, as implications policy, resource allocation, prevention, planning services. This can inform future work on reaching consensus defining youth.