Head injuries in four British neurosurgical centres.

An issue in the design of trials in traumatic brain injury is whether variation amongst centres in 'conventional' management could mask the impact of a powerful new pharmacological agent. We report the results of an observational study of 988 patients admitted to one of four British neurosurgical units between 1986 and 1988 within 3 days of a severe head injury. The centres fell into two pairs on the basis of the 'intensity' of management. In Edinburgh and Southampton, more frequent use of intracranial pressure monitoring, ventilation and osmotic diuretics was made than in Glasgow and Liverpool. The odds ratio for an independent outcome at 6 months in Edinburgh or Southampton, relative to Glasgow or Liverpool, controlling for case mix, was 1.43 (95% CI, 1.03-1.98, p = 0.033). Thus, there is weak evidence of an association between the approach to management and clinical outcome at 6 months.