The Pattern Of Computerised Tomographic Findings In Moderate And Severe Head Injuries In Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Fifty-seven patients with moderate and severe head injuries between January 2001 and December 2001 had computerised tomographic (CT) scan of the head done at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex Ile- Ife, Nigeria. Forty patients (70%) were male while 17 (30%) were female, with a male to female ratio of 2.5: 1. The age range was from 1 to 71 years with a mean of 27.2years. The age groups mostly affected were those in the second and third decades of life. A retrospective study of the CT findings was carried out to determine the pattern of radiological presentation in these groups of patients. Fifty (>87%) patients showed abnormal CT findings based on the demonstration o f skullfractures, intracranial hemorrhage, cerebral oedema, cerebral contusion, ventricular compression, midline shift, soft tissue swelling and pneumocephalus (aerocele). These findings were analysed and the various abnormalities were compared to the portion of the brain mostly affected in each case. The frontal and parietal regions of the brain were mostly affected both by fractures and by intracranial hemorrhages. Skull fractures were demonstrated in eighteen (32%) cases. These were frequently associated with intracranial hemorrhages particularly extradural hemorrhage (EDH) in 80% and subdural hemorrhage (SDH) in 33% of the cases. CT brain scan in moderate and severe head injuries is vital in the overall management of the patients and may be cost effective.