• Jehane H Dagher, Natalie Habra, Julie Lamoureux, Elaine De Guise, and Mitra Feyz.
• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. drdagher@hotmail.com
• Brain Inj. 2010 Jan 1; 24 (12): 1389-98.

Primary ObjectiveTo compare socio-demographic, medical characteristics and acute outcomes between patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) from motor vehicle collision (MVC) or assault in an acute care setting.Research DesignThis descriptive, comparative retrospective cohort study included 415 patients with moderate and severe TBI secondary to an assault (n¼91) vs a motor vehicle collision (n=324).Methods And ProceduresOutcome measures were length of stay (LOS) in the intensive care unit and in hospital, Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS-E), FIM® instrument (‘FIM’) and discharge destination.Main Outcomes And ResultsPatients with TBI from MVC had a higher percentage of polytrauma, higher injury severity scores, required more orthopaedic surgeries and thoracic drain insertions. Patients with TBI from assault were more often non-Caucasian, young single men, less educated with higher unemployment rates and criminal records, with a history of alcohol and drug abuse and were more often intoxicated on admission. There was no significant group difference in the LOS and FIM ratings, but patients with assault-related TBI were more often discharged home and had a more favourable GOS-E.ConclusionVariables such as injury severity, age, level of intoxication on admission and presence of surgeries should be considered when determining acute outcome.

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