Hypomagnesemia is postulated as one of the important determinants of outcome following
traumatic brain injury (TBI) through its effect on secondary injuries to neurons.
Aims and Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between
serum magnesium level and neurological outcome in patients admitted with severe head
injury. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, patients admitted with severe TBI were recruited and dichotomized
into low serum magnesium group and normal serum magnesium group based on the initial
serum magnesium level. Data were collected regarding age, sex, and Glasgow Coma Scale
at admission. Neurological outcome of the patients in these groups was assessed using
Glasgow Outcome Scale at 6 months. Results: Seventy-two patients (male = 50, female = 22) with a mean (±standard deviation) age
of 42.5 (±12.7) years were studied. Forty-two (58%) patients had low serum magnesium
level (<1.3 mEq/L) at admissions. At 6-month follow-up, 81% of patients with poor
neurological outcome had low serum magnesium as compared to 19% of patients with good
outcome (P = 0.01). Hypomagnesemia was associated with poor neurological outcome (odds
ratio = 2.1, P = 0.04, 95% confidence interval = 1.0–8.8) on regression analysis.
Conclusion: Hypomagnesemia appears to be an independent prognostic marker in patients with severe
TBI.
Key-words:
Glasgow Outcome Scale - head injury - serum magnesium
