Serious traumatic brain injury (sTBI) project

The aim of this project is to achieve national consistency in the acute management of sTBI that reduces mortality and secondary injury.

Background on the sTBI project

Around 35 percent of all major trauma experienced in Aotearoa New Zealand have an associated sTBI.

Early analysis of New Zealand Trauma Registry data suggests there is some variation in how sTBI is managed and outcomes for patients who suffer sTBI, by population, geography and destination hospital. This variation is probably driven by a mix of diagnostic, prognostic and system factors and may present barriers for people who need to access the right care in the right place at the right time following serious injury.

Such variation is not well understood and may impact patients’ and whānau long-term recovery and have consequences for use of health care services and costs of care. 

Managing variation at the population level would present opportunities for improvement at a national level and allow local or regional approaches to be tested.

This is an ongoing project and this page will be updated as deliverables are completed.