Abstract
Background
Magnesium is considered to have important role in cytotoxic and reperfusion pathways,
deficiency of which may lead to secondary brain injuries; thus, hypomagnesemia is
thought to be detrimental in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. The aim of this
study was to evaluate the relationship between serum ionic magnesium level and neurological
outcome in severe TBI patients.
Materials and Methods
Eighty-four patients with severe TBI aged between 20 and 80 years admitted within
24 hours of injury included in our study. All patients were divided into two categories
on the basis of initial serum magnesium levels as low serum magnesium level and normal
serum magnesium level. Data was collected on the basis of age, gender, Glasgow Coma
Scale (GCS) at the time of admission, and neurological outcome evaluation done on
the basis of Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at the end of 6 months.
Results
Among the total patients, 32 patients had low serum magnesium level (< 1.6 mg/dL)
at the time of admission. About 87.5% patients with low serum magnesium level had
poor neurological outcome as compared to 12.5% of patients (p < 0.001) had good neurological outcome evaluated on the basis of GOS. Logistic regression
model identified low Mg level (odds ratio = 6.593, p = 0.002) and GCS score less than 5 (odds ratio = 3.099, p = 0.028) as independent predictors of TBI.
Conclusion
Hypomagnesemia seems to be an independent prognostic marker in severe TBI that can
lead to poorer outcomes.
Keywords
traumatic brain injury - Glasgow Coma Score - Glasgow Outcome Scale - trauma - magnesium
