Trends of traumatic brain injury in the US and the public health response

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is an issue with significant public health impact. In 2009, approximately 3.5 million annual TBI-related hospitalizations, Emergency Department visits, and outpatient or office-based encounters have been identified as cases of TBI alone or TBI in conjunction with other injuries or conditions. Since the mid-1990s, the US Congress has mandated and authorized CDC and other Federal agencies to assist with efforts to reduce the burden of this potentially preventable condition. Beginning with the TBI Act of 1996, we chronicle congressionally-mandated public laws, which have guided Federal agencies to develop and strengthen existing surveillance and preventive efforts. Additionally, this session will outline National Center for Injury Prevention and Control's surveillance activities, describe the evolution of the TBI surveillance system, review trends in TBI statistics, and discuss gaps in TBI epidemiology. Lastly, presenters will provide recommendations to further develop the framework for surveillance.