Approximately 1.5 to 2 million Indians suffer from traumatic head injury and 1 million succumb to death every year. Such injuries have a significant effect on physical and mental functioning. Hence, elaborate diagnosis workup in necessary to clinically judge the extent of the injury which also helps in the decision of treatment. This article outlines the different diagnosis modalities for traumatic brain injury. Laboratory Studies: Serum sodium level is important in head injury.
Almost 50% of the head injury patient has altered serum sodium level. Hyponatremia may be due to cerebral salt wasting or syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). Magnesium is also depleted in head injury. Assessing the level of magnesium is important because the element is involved in blocking excitotoxic function and functions as an antioxidant. Coagulopathy should be ruled out with the studies…
