The relevance of the biomechanics of impact to the assessment of head injured patients in the accident and emergency department.

This paper presents the results of a study of every head injured patient attending the Salford A & E service over a twelve month period. In addition to the more usual data concerning clinical status on arrival and outcome, consideration was given to the speed of impact and the object with which the head collided. The latter was then correlated with the severity of injury sustained.