Head injury is the sixth most common cause of death in the country and about 5,00,ooo people across the world suffer a head injury in some form or the other.

The Global Health City on the occasion, World Head Injury Awareness Day, completed a week-long awareness campaign which included road safety awareness campaign, creating awareness among college and school students and educating cab drivers with tips on safe driving.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Uma Nambiar, CEO, Global Health City, said "India has the rather unenviable distinction of having the highest rate of head injuries in the world. In India, more than 1,00,000 lives are lost every year with over 1 million suffering from serious head injuries. I hope these awareness campaigns will help in reducing these numbers in a very significant way."

Two head injury cases that were saved in the recent past were presented. Reimund from Germany was admitted after an accident where there was an immediate loss of consciousness. The patient had multiple lacerations on the face with a severe crush injury on his forehead, causing deformity. He underwent 'Carpeting of the Anterior Cranial Fossa Base' and fixation of Facial bones fracture with elective tracheostomy. The patient was gradually taken off the ventilator and is on spontaneous breathing. He has been mobilised out of bed and is doing well. His facial structure has been reconstructed and is looking near normal.

Similarly, Samrat Bhandari was admitted after a road accident and was put on ventilator support. A chest CT scan showed a right side hemothorax with collapsed lung (blood collection in the chest). Cardiothoracic surgeon's opinion was obtained and the right side Chest tube was inserted. Fibro- optic bronchoscopy and suctioning were done to clear the secretions. The patient gradually improved and was taken off ventilator support and was given regular physiotherapy and rehabilitation and his condition improved well.

Speaking alongside the patient, Dr K Sridhar Director, Institute of Neuro Sciences & Spinal disorder Global Health City said, "Prevention is the best treatment in any case of a head injury. The golden hour after the major accident decides the fate of a patient. It is, therefore, imperative that these serious patients are shifted to a hospital with a capability of managing polytrauma and critical injuries."