Coagulation abnormalities in patients with head injury.

The Authors have studied five coagulation parameters (platelets count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen and fibrinogen degradation products) in 60 head traumatized patients. These parameters were alterated in a high percentage of patients. Moreover 5 patients presented laboratory values indicative of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). DIC could be an important factor of mortality in the head traumatized patients. So coagulation system must be carefully evaluated in any patient with head injury.