Head injury: Calabar Teaching Hospital experience

Abstract

This study was undertaken as part of a wider prospective study by the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital Trauma Study Group. The specific objective was to highlight the pattern, distribution causative and contributory factors to head injury in our locality and to assess the outcome of treatment. The overall aim was to establish those epidemiological factors which may be targeted in the prevention and improvement of outcome. This paper is the preliminary report of this on-going study. The pattern and distribution of head injuries shows that a typical head injured patient in our locality is a male, aged between 21 and 30 years involved in a motorcycle related accident. Accidents frequently occured between 7 and 9pm and though 75% of patients arrived in hospital within 6 hours of injury, 17% of all cases died probably from suboptimal in-hospital care even in a tertiary centre. None of the patients used a protective helmet or restraining seatbelt. Prevention remains the key management option in these injuries. Nigerian Journal of Surgical Sciences Vol. 17 (1) 2007: pp. 14-2