BACKGROUND

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common cause of death. This study was aimed to identify the relationship between severity of head injury and total antioxidants status of the patients.

METHOD

The recruitment was through systematic sampling technique. Serum antioxidants status was evaluated by measuring Total antioxidant status (TAS) level. TAS level was correlated with varying degree of severity of head injuries using Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) Scoring system.

RESULTS

Sixty (60) patients (mean age 35.1± 11.4 years; 83.3% male, 16.7% female).

This study showed that patients with mild head injury have high TAS level while those with moderate to severe head injury have low TAS level and this result is statistically significant

Correlations of Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score with TAS level showed high TAS levels in patients with mild head injury and lower levels were found among the moderate and severe head injured patients which was significant statistically

CONCLUSION

Oxidative stress plays vital role in severity of traumatic brain injury and TAS level may be useful in predicting prognosis of traumatic brain injury.