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A 1997 inquiry of 130 neurosurgeons throughout Germany, dealing with diagnosis and therapy ofpatients with mild traumatic brain injury showed a mainly inhomogeneous picture. The EuropeanFederation of Neurological Societies inquiry form `Management of Patients with Mild Head Injury'was sent on behalf of the German Society of Neurological Surgeons to every leading neurosurgeon inGermany, of whom only 74 (57%) answered. The diagnosis `mild brain injury' is used by 63%,`commotio cerebri' by 49%, and `brain concussion' by 4% of the institutions. GCS is used forclassification by 60%, PTA 48%, retrograde amnesia by 50%, and LOC by 63% of institutions.Guidelines are used in 78%. Diagnostic x-ray of the skull is used in 77%, cervical spine in 62%, CTin 66%, MRT in 7%; and routine EEG in 35%. Fourteen per cent of the patients are not admitted;home observation is used in 45% of institutions, full bedrest in 19%, working pause in 48%, painmedication in 27%, control in 51%. Seperate guidelines for children in 54% of those departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]