Closed head injury and the treatment of sequelae after a motor vehicle accident.

Approximately 2 million closed head injuries (CHIs) occur yearly in the United States. Twenty-five percent of these injuries require hospitalization, and 70,000 to 90,000 of those hospitalized suffer long-term disability. This case conference details one such case of CHI in which the patient ultimately died. Close attention is given to the pathophysiology and treatment of this process. Commonly accepted, as well as investigational, modalities of therapy are discussed.