Therapeutic study, level V.

In patients with intracranial injury, a mild GCS score (GCS 13-15) in patients with an intracranial injury does not preclude progression on repeat head CT and the need for a neurosurgical intervention. Base deficit greater than four and displaced skull fracture are the greatest predictors for neurosurgical intervention in patients with mild TBI and an intracranial injury.

The role of acute care surgeons is evolving; however, no guidelines exist for the selective treatment of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) exclusively by acute care surgeons. We implemented the Brain Injury Guidelines (BIG) for managing TBI at our institution on March 1, 2012. OBJECTIVE To compare the outcomes in patients with TBI before and after implementation of the BIG protocol. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS We conducted a 2-year analysis of our prospectively maintained database of all patients with TBI (findings of skull fracture and/or intracranial hemorrhage on an initial computed tomographic scan of the head) who presented to our level I trauma center. The pre-BIG group included patients with TBI from

Prognostic study, level II.

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Economic and value-based evaluation, level III.

TBI patients can be selectively managed without initially involving neurosurgeons safely in a cost-effective manner, resulting in more effective use of precious resources.