Blunt head trauma: comparison of various weapons with intracranial injury and neurologic outcome.

The weapons used in blunt head trauma cases were identified to determine if a particular weapon was associated with a specific type of intracranial injury or a poorer neurologic outcome. A consecutive sample of 178 patients was examined. Forty-seven percent of patients beaten with baseball bats and 63% of patients beaten with fists had positive computed tomographic (CT) findings. Twenty five percent of patients beaten with bats and 48% of those beaten with fists had poor neurologic outcomes (p < 0.056). Of those with positive CT findings, 30% of patients beaten with bats and 59% of patients beaten with fists had a poor outcome (p = 0.511). No weapon was associated with a particular intracranial injury. Of assault victims who survive an attack and require admission to the hospital, those beaten with bats are less likely to have significant neurologic dysfunction upon hospital discharge than those beaten with fists.