Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious public health problem in the United States. A TBI is caused by a bump, blow, jolt, or penetration to the head that disrupts the normal function of the brain. Each year, traumatic brain injuries contribute to a substantial number of deaths and cases of permanent disability.
Massachusetts statistics
In 2019, more than 25,000 Massachusetts residents sustained a TBI. Among those injured, 825 residents died (9.9 per 100,000 population). There were 5,817 TBI-related hospital stays (72/100,000) and an additional 18,947 TBI-related emergency department (ED) visits (273.8/100,000).
Unintentional falls were the leading cause of TBI-related injury deaths, followed by firearm and suicide. The leading cause of TBI-related hospital stays was unintentional fall-related injuries followed by unintentional motor vehicle traffic injuries. Unintentional falls were also the leading cause of TBI-related ED visits.
Note: Calendar year was used for deaths, federal fiscal year (Oct 2018-Sep 2019) was used for hospital stays and ED visits. Patients may be seen more than once for an injury, so hospital stays, and ED visits are number of visits, not “individual” counts. All rates are for 100,000 population.
Tips to prevent injuries:
- Make your bathroom safer. Install grab bars by the toilet and bathtub. You can also use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on the bathroom floor to help prevent any falls.
- Clear any unnecessary belongings. Older adults should remove tripping hazards, such as throw rugs and clutter in areas of their home where there is a lot of foot traffic.
- Seat belts save lives. It is Massachusetts law to buckle up every time you drive or ride in a vehicle.
- Stay protected. Ensure kids always wear their helmets and other protective gear when biking or playing sports.
- Make living and play areas safer for children. Install window guards to keep young children from falling out of open windows. Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs when young children are around. Make sure your child's playground has soft material under it, such as hardwood mulch or sand.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a variety of TBI prevention initiatives for health care providers, student athlete programs, and parents of teen drivers.
- Health care providers can use a falls prevention toolkit known as STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries) to incorporate fall risk assessment and individualized fall interventions (e.g., exercise, medication management, and Vitamin D supplementation) into their practice. Learn more about STEADI.
- Organizers and supporters of student athlete programs can use the HEADS UP program to create a culture of concussion safety in sports. HEADS UP educational materials are designed to support individuals (such as coaches and health care providers) and organizations (such as schools and sports programs) with their concussion safety efforts. Learn more about HEADS UP.
- The Danger Zones initiative can help parents of teen drivers to understand the specific risk factors that can lead to car crashes and the potential for traumatic brain injuries – and help their teen make safer choices on the road.