Abstract
As more about pathophysiology of traumatic-ischemic brain injury becomes known, more effective means for pharmacologic intervention and neuronal salvage will emerge, and optimisim is high that improvements in functional survival will continue. This article discusses the prevention and treatment of the secondary injury that follows the traumatic insult because this offers the best chance for improving current methods for enhancing neurologic recovery subsequent to a penetrating brain injury. The current and most potentially rewarding avenues for intervention in the head-injured patient are discussed.