Traumatic brain injury among American Indians/Alaska Natives--United States, 1992-1996.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, resulting in approximately 52,000 deaths, 230,000 hospitalizations, and 80,000 disabilities annually. Among American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs), injuries are the second leading cause of death; however, few published reports concern nonfatal injuries in this population, especially for injuries such as TBI. To describe the causes and impact of TBI among AI/ANs, CDC analyzed Indian Health Service (IHS) hospital discharge data. This report summarizes the results of this analysis, which indicate that prevention strategies should focus on the leading causes of TBI hospitalizations, including motor-vehicle crashes, assaults, and falls.