The incidence of traumatic brain injury in young people in the catchment area of the University Hospital Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is in the developed countries the most common cause of death and disability in childhood.

Aim: The purpose of this study is to estimate the incidence of TBI for children and young people in an urbanised region of the Netherlands and to describe relevant characteristics of this group.

Methods: Patients, aged 1 month - 24 years who presented with traumatic brain injury at the Erasmus University Hospital (including the Sophia Children's Hospital) in 2007 and 2008 were included in a retrospective study.