Trends in Etiology and Mortality in Severe Polytrauma Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A 25-Year Retrospective Analysis

Background: Polytrauma remains a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide. Although trauma-related deaths have declined in recent decades, the drivers of this trend remain incompletely understood. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the principal cause of death and long-term disability in polytrauma, making it a critical determinant of outcomes. This study aimed to examine long-term trends in clinical characteristics, management strategies, and outcomes of polytraumatized patients with TBI (PTBI), with a particular focus on factors influencing overall and cause-specific mortality. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study of a prospectively maintained trauma registry over a 25-year period (1993–2018) at the Gregorio Marañón University General Hospital (Madrid, Spain). Adult patients with PTBI were included. Epidemiological, clinical, and outcome data were analyzed globally and across four time periods. Results: Among 768 patients with PTBI, mean age was 43 years (±20), and 29% were female. Most sustained closed TBIs (96%) with concomitant severe injuries to the head, chest, and extremities (median Injury Severity Score ISS 27; median New Injury Severity Score NISS 34). Emergency surgery was required in 51%, and 84% were admitted to intensive care. Over time, the incidence of polytrauma decreased, mainly reflecting fewer traffic-related injuries following advances in prevention and legislation. Despite an increasingly older and comorbid population, ISS/NISS and early mortality declined, largely due to improvements in prehospital care and hemorrhage control. Although crude TBI-related mortality appeared unchanged (28%), this pattern likely reflects offsetting influences, including an older and more comorbid patient population, a higher relative burden of severe cases, and the limitations of mortality alone to capture gains in functional outcomes. Conclusions: Advances in trauma systems and preventive policies have substantially reduced the burden of polytrauma and improved survival. However, severe TBI remains the principal unresolved challenge, highlighting the urgent need for innovative neuroprotective strategies and greater emphasis on functional recovery.