The incidence (number of new cases) of head injury is 300 per 100,000 per year (0.3% of the population), with a mortality of 25 per 100,000 in North America and 9 per 100,000 in Britain.

Serious head trauma is usually secondary to motor vehicle accidents, sports, recreation, and violence. Presentation varies according to the injury. A patient may present with neurologic deficit or without neurologic deficit. Some patients with head trauma may stabilize and other patients may deteriorate. Children with neurologic deficits may have a history of a lucid interval and relapse into coma, or they may have remained abnormal after the injury. The physocal examination will vary according to the injury.