Original Article

Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society. 1990; 19(1): 79-88.

An Investigation on the Subjective Sequelae of Head Injury.

Kyeong Seok Lee, Hack Gun Bae, and Il Gyu Yun

Department of Neurosurgery, Soonchunhyang University Chonan Hospital, Chonan, Korea.

We present an investigation on the subjective sequelae of head injury. There were 88 patients who had replyed to a questionnaire from May to July 1988. All had been admitted to the Soonchunhyang University Chonan Hospital at least 8 months before the investigation(range from 8 months to 2 years). In 71 patients of mild head injury(Glasgow coma score 13~15), 55 patients(77.5%) had symptoms as a sequelae of head injury. Of 17 patients with moderate to severe head injury, 12 patients(70.6%) had subjective sequelae. The most common symptom was decreased memory. Fatigue, poor concentration, dizzness, headache, and temper were also frequently complained in that order. The symptoms were not different according to the age, sex, and Glasgow coma scale on admission. Neither cranial operation nor skull fracture increased the symptoms, too. However, subjective symptoms were more common in patients who did not satisfied to the given treatment(p<0.01), who blamed others(not himself) for the injury(p<0.025), and who did not paied by himself for the treatment(p<0.01). Employmental status was changed in 11.4% and 14.8% was lost their occupation after the head injury. It is considerable that a quarter of patients with head injury eventually lost or changed their occupation. Further investigations on the sequelae of head injury and proper consultation for better life is needed.

Keywords : Head injury;Sequelae;Subjective symptom;Employment status