Pattern of Injury and Computed Tomography Findings in Patients with Cranio-Cerebral Trauma

Abstract

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of fatalities from trauma and the main cause of disability under the age of 40 years. The estimated incidence of TBI in Nepal slightly surpasses the global average of 369 per 100,000. This study aims to identify the types of head trauma and patterns of CT scan findings, which will be beneficial in managing the patients and modifying the treatment protocol accordingly.

Methods: The study was conducted in the department of Radiology of Western Regional Hospital, Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences, from March to August 2024. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted with 220 patients of all age groups coming for a CT scan of the head due to trauma to assess the causes and pattern of injuries.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 37.29±21.75 years and males were twice in number compared to females. More than 50% of patients had head injuries from road traffic accidents and 48.18% had fall injuries. The CT scan findings demonstrated that scalp hematoma was seen in 61.36% and skull fracture in 29% of patients. Amongst intracranial findings, contusion was seen in 6.82% of patients, subdural haemorrhage in 5.91%, epidural haemorrhage in 3.64%, and subarachnoid haemorrhage in 2.73%.

Conclusion: Almost 74% of people with head injuries who underwent a CT scan had some type of abnormal findings, where extra-cranial hematoma was more common than intracranial hematoma. Preventive strategies should be developed to minimize head injuries, and effective treatment planning is essential.