Life expectancy and causes of death in a group of head-injured veterans of World War I.

The life spans and causes of death were examined for a group of Bavarian veterans of World War I who had suffered head injuries and for comparable control subjects who had not. The occurrence of posttraumatic fits was a significant prognostic factor for a higher death rate after the age of 50 years. Other indicators of the severity of injury did not lead to differences in the death rates.

Analysis of brain abscess after penetrating craniocerebral injuries in Vietnam.

A population of 1221 patients from the Vietnam War with penetrating craniocerebral trauma was analyzed. Thirty-seven cases of brain abscess were documented (incidence 3%). This sequela occurred more frequently in association with extensive, deep penetrating injuries; deep, prolonged coma; cerebrospinal fluid fistulas; wound infections; facio-orbital cranial/air sinus injuries; and retained bone fragments.