On Air Archive

Our thanks to Headway, the brain injury association. for their help with this weeks report and for the use of the information below.  For advice you can email  helpline@headway.org.uk or call their freephone helpline on 0808 800 2244

Traumatic Brain Injury
Each year an estimated 1 million people attend hospital A&E in the UK following head injury. Many more head injuries go unreported and are not assessed by medical professionals. Of these, around 135,000 people are admitted to hospital each year as a consequence of brain injury It is estimated that across the UK there are around 500,000 people (aged 16 - 74) living with long term disabilities as a result of traumatic brain injury

Approximately 85% of traumatic brain injuries are classified as minor, 10% as moderate and 5% as severe. Approximately half of deaths in people under 40 are due to traumatic brain injury.

Men are two to three times more likely to have a traumatic brain injury than women. This increases to five times more likely in the 15-29 age range

Life expectancy for brain injury survivors is normal, so over time, what may seem like a low volume problem becomes a high volume one

Other Forms Of Acquired Brain Injury
Over 130,000 people have a stroke each year in England and Wales
There are estimated to be over 450,000 people in England living with severe disability as the result of a stroke. An estimated 13,000 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour each year in the UK. As many as 500,000 people living in the UK today have had either viral or bacterial meningitis at some time in their lives.
Common causes of hypoxic/anoxic injury include heart attack

Effects
Behaviour and personality: anxiety, depression, loss of motivation, difficulty controlling anger, and impulsivity
Cognitive: problems with memory, attention and concentration, low tolerance of noisy or stressful environments, loss of insight and initiative
Physical: loss of co-ordination, muscle rigidity, paralysis, epilepsy, difficulty in speaking, loss of sight, smell or taste, fatigue, and sexual problems
Initial diagnosis of severity of injury is not a reliable indicator of long-term problems
Relationships with family and friends can be placed under immense strain.
Relatives report that the ten most difficult problems are personality changes, slowness, poor memory, irritability, bad temper, tiredness, depression, tension and anxiety, rapid mood changes, and threats of violence

Key Cycle Helmet Facts
The number of cyclists killed or seriously injured on UK roads has increased 11% in the past three years. (Department for Transport)

Cyclist casualty and KSI rates per 100,000 people are highest for 12-15 year olds. For this age group, 1 in every 5 casualties in a road accident is a pedal cyclist. (Department for Transport)

22% of all UK cycling casualties are under 16. The figure for child casualties in all forms of road traffic accident is only 10%. (Department for Transport)

It is estimated that 90,000 on-road and 100,000 off-road cycling accidents occur every year in the UK, of which 53%(100,000) involve children under 16. (Bicycle Helmets 1 - Does the dental profession have a role in promoting their use?

The number of pedal cyclists killed or seriously injured (KSI) in road accidents in 2007 was 2,564. This included 136 deaths. 522 children were among the KSI total.

A Cochrane review considering five case-control studies from the UK, Australia and the USA illustrates a large and consistent protective effect from cycle helmets, reducing the risk of brain injury by up to 88% and injury to the upper and mid face by 65%

After introducing a helmet law for children under 14, the US state of New Jersey reported that bicycle-related fatalities for that group fell by 60%. For riders over 14, who were not required to wear helmets, the reduction was a mere 5% in the same period. 
 

* A head injury needs to be diagnosed by a medical professional to be classified as a brain injury.