The Role of C.A.T. in the Diagnosis and Management of Traumatic Intracranial Haematoma

Head injuries are an important aspect of health care which impose considerable burdens on the hospital service; in the UK they comprise 1 in every 10 new patients in accident and emergency departments, and account for 150,000 hospital admissions every year. In Europe most admissions are to accident or general surgery wards, only the minority of obviously serious injuries coming to neurosurgeons. Even after mild injury there is the threat of serious complications which can develop rapidly, and are associated with considerable mortality and morbidity rates. The reason why so many mildly injured patients are admitted to hospital is in the hope that clinical observation will result in early detection of complications.