Percent Distributions of TBI-related Emergency Department Visits by Age Group and Injury Mechanism — United States, 2006–2010

The injury mechanisms (external causes of injury) associated with TBI-related ED visits vary by age group. Falls are the primary mechanisms of TBI-related ED visits in the youngest (0–4 years) and oldest (65 years and older) age groups, accounting for 72.8% and 81.8% of TBI-related ED visits, respectively. Injuries caused by being struck by/against an object (34.9%) and falls (35.1%) account for the majority of injury in youth 5–14 years of age with respect to TBI-related ED visits. For persons in age groups 15–24 years and 25–44 years, the proportions of TBI-related ED visits due to assaults, falls, and motor vehicle traffic events are nearly equal within and across both age groups.

The data in this graph is contained in the table below.

 

  Motor Vehicle Traffic Falls Assault Struck by/Against All Other Causes Unknown
0–4 14,655 250,413 1,513 53,761 13,222 10,225
5–14 18,110 101,790 16,612 101,112 31,355 20,763
15–24 76,602 77,951 81,822 71,031 34,486 22,722
25–44 75,122 80,867 75,527 49,505 36,933 22,855
45–64 46,923 95,824 28,206 36,925 15,843 18,804
≥ 65 10,359 174,544 4,068 12,815 6,285 5,216
Source: