Early prediction of outcome in severe head injury

Summary A survey is given of the development and actual state of the prediction of outcome in severe head injury. Thanks to the data collection in some large databanks it has become possible, in a relatively large number of cases, to estimate reliably the chances of survival and the chance of developing an intracranial haematoma base on clinical data and CT obtained during the first 24 hours. Later during the posttraumatic course prediction is possible of the degree of remaining disability in survivors, and the chances of developing epilepsy and neuro-behavioural sequelae. Due to changing management-regimens further datacollection in international databanks is necessary.Invited Lecture, presented at the European Congress of Neurosurgery, Moscow, June 23–29, 1991.