The Epidemiology of Traumatic Brain Injury Due to Traffic Accidents in Latin America: A Narrative Review

• Published in: Journal of neurosciences in rural practice Vol. 11; no. 2; pp. 287 - 290
• Main Authors: Dunne, Jack, Quiñones-Ossa, Gabriel Alexander, Still, Ethne Grey, Suarez, María N., González-Soto, José A., Vera, David S., Rubiano, Andrés M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: A-12, Second Floor, Sector -2, NOIDA -201301, India Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd 01.04.2020
• Subjects: Original; Original Article; trauma; epidemiology; brain injuries; road traffic accidents; Latin America
• ISSN: 0976-3147; 0976-3155; 0976-3147
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1709363

Abstract Objective  Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are devastating injuries and represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Traffic accidents are one of the main causes, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The epidemiology of TBI due to road traffic in Latin America is not clearly documented. Methods  A narrative review was conducted using PubMed, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar, looking for TBI studies in Latin America published between 2000 and 2018. Seventeen studies were found that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results   It was found that TBI due to road traffic accidents (RTAs) is more frequent in males between the ages of 15 and 35 years, and patients in motor vehicles accounted for most cases, followed by pedestrians, motorcyclists, and cyclists. Conclusion  Road traffic accidents is a common cause of TBI in Latin America. More studies and registries are needed to properly document the epidemiological profiles of TBI related to RTAs.