Pediatric traumatic brain injury in chad: about 256 cases

Abstract

Abstract Purpose Pediatric traumatic brain injury (PTBI) is a frequent pathology in the pediatric environment and remains a public health concern in the world. PTBI is the leading cause of death and severe disability in children in countries with limited pediatric trauma legislation. The objective is to report the experience of the management of PTBI in children in Chad. Methods This report is a prospective study of 256 patients admitted for PTBI over a year period. Result The incidence was 19.09%. The mean age was 6.2 years with extremes of 1 day and 15 years. The male represented 68.8% with a ratio of 2.2. The transport of the injured patients to health facilities using other means than ambulances in 87.5%. Initial loss of consciousness (IOL) accounted for 79.1% and coma seizures for 34.37%. Public road accidents accounted for 64.5% of causes. Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) accounted for 24.2%. The cerebral scanner was performed in 37.9% of cases and had shown the association of craniocerebral lesions in 10.1% of cases. Craniocerebral wound trimming was the most common surgical procedure performed in 21.8% of cases, followed by removal of the depressed fracture of skull in 6.2% of cases. Mortality rate was 9% and sequelae 5.4%. Conclusion PTBI is a frequent neurosurgical pathology in the pediatric setting in Chad. The absence of health insurance in our context makes access to care and radiological examinations very difficult. The prognosis was conditioned by the rapidity of the management and the initial loss of consciousness.