Urgencias neuroquirúrgicas en el Instituto Superior de Medicina Militar "Luis Díaz Soto": Estudio de cinco a？os

a prospective, descriptive, and longitudinal study of the neusosurgical procedure followed with all the patients attended from january 1998 to december 2002 in the emergency department of “ luis díaz soto ” higher institute of military medicine was conducted. data were collected at the end of the duty and from the medical registries, the medical histories and the control book of operations and admissions. 17 % of the 8 113 patients that received attention were children. 1 357 patients required admission. skull fractures were the main reason (254 cases), followed by brain concussion (245 cases). intracranial hematomas in 167 patients were the first cause of surgery. an analysis of the causes of admission, referrals, and neurosurgical operations was made. skull traumatology is still the main cause of emergency care, although the specialist on duty sees a great number of patients that do not require specialized attention.