Sequelae associated with head injuries in patients who were not hospitalized: a follow-up survey.

Data about sequelae associated with head injuries in patients presenting at a suburban hospital but not hospitalized were collected from emergency department medical records and two follow-up telephone interviews. During the study period 669 patients with head injuries were discharged from the emergency department. Of these, 288 were asked to participate in the study, 275 (95%) agreed, and 262 (91%) were eventually contacted. Participants and nonparticipants were compared on six variables and differed significantly only on age--younger patients were more likely to be included. Forty-eight hours after trauma, 52% of the respondents suffered headaches, 14% complained of dizziness, and 13% complained of drowsiness. One week after trauma, the complaints were headaches in 27%, dizziness in 11%, and drowsiness in 9%. Twenty-seven per cent had not resumed normal activity at 48 hours after trauma, and 13% had not at 1 week. Sixty-six per cent of the patients followed the patient instructions regarding head injuries.