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 (MA) 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 fall was also the leading cause of TBI-related ED visits.
** 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.**