Primary objective: The eruption of
Al-Aqsa Intifada created a war situation in Palestine, increasing the
number of firearms injuries caused by occupying Israeli forces as well
as disabling head injuries. No data were available to the Palestinian
Ministry of Health and other health organizations on traumatic brain
injury (TBI) in Palestine. This study, therefore, sought to determine
the causes and outcomes of TBI in patients who were admitted to three
hospitals in Nablus, Palestine.
Research design: Retrospective review of medical records and contacts with patients and/or caregivers.
Methods and procedures: The medical records of patients who were diagnosed with TBI (n
= 312) and admitted to any one of the three hospitals in 2006 and 2007
were reviewed. Data were also obtained from follow-up home visits and
telephone calls with consenting patients and/or caregivers.
Main outcomes and results:
The major causes of TBI were assault (33%), falls (32.1%), road traffic
crashes (29.8%) and impacts from heavy objects (3.2%). Gunshot wounds
are a major cause of head injury in Palestine.
Conclusions:
The study shows that assault with firearms is the most frequent cause
of TBI in this population and that patients with head injuries due to
assault have poorer outcomes at discharge than those injured in other
ways.