California traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur in both adults and children, typically the result of a sudden jolt or blunt force applied to the head.

TBIs are the leading cause of death in children and despite the occurrence of more than 1 million cases each year, no effective treatment exists for children with TBIs. Causes of TBIs include car accidents, sports injuries, falls, and birth injuries.

Following research showing progesterone has been effective for adults with TBIs, the University of Michigan has announced plans for a nationwide pediatric patient study that will address innovative treatment for TBIs. A University of California Davis professor is serving as a co-principal investigator in the study.

Other TBI statistics include:

• More than 165,000 children require hospitalization each year as the result of TBIs.
• Those most likely to sustain TBIs include children aged 0-4, adolescents aged 15-19, and adults aged 65 and older.
• Almost 473,947 emergency room visits occur each year for children aged 0-14.