Effect of Magnesium on Various Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health concern. Hypomagnesemia in the brain following TBI has been shown to contribute to secondary injury via several mechanisms. We aimed to longitudinally evaluate the effect of magnesium on various clinical outcomes in patients with severe TBI. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review at a level 1 Trauma Center, investigating the relationship between magnesium levels at five clinical timepoints (Hospital Admission, ICU Admission, ICU Discharge, Hospital Discharge, and Patient Death) and a range of clinical variables (Hospital Length of Stay, ED Length of Stay, ICU Length of Stay, Vent Days) and injury severity scores (Abbreviated Injury Scale, Injury Severity Score, and Glasgow Coma Scale). Results: 826 patients were included in our study (25.1% female). Significant associations were noted at the Patient Death (PD) timepoint for Hospital LOS (p=0.000, DF=3), ED LOS (p=0.000, DF=3), and vent days (p=0.000, DF=3). All three injury severity scores were also significantly associated with magnesium levels at the PD timepoint (p=0.000, DF=3). Conclusion: We found significant associations between magnesium level and hospital length of stay, ED length of stay, number of days on mechanical ventilation, and injury severity scores at the Patient Death timepoint. No other significant associations were noted. This agrees with existing literature, though there is a relative dearth of research assessing the relationship of magnesium levels to these clinical outcomes.