Determinants of Outcome in Traumatic Head Injuries: A South East Nigeria Experience

Objectives The objectives of this study were to ascertain factors significantly responsible for mortality from traumatic head injuries and prescribe measures necessary to circumvent such outcome. Methods A retrospective cohort study of all traumatic head injuries seen at our facility from October 2013 to September 2015 was done utilizing data from patient's case notes, ward registers, and casualty department. Extracted data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results A total of 221 patient records were analyzed with 161 men and 60 women. It was observed that although the younger age group (19–30 years) was the most frequently affected by traumatic head injuries (36.2%), the elderly (>60 years) were 4.6 times more likely to die from traumatic head injuries than any other age group. Also, those with severe head injuries were 58 times more likely to die than any other category of head injury, even though the commonest category of head injuries seen were mild head injuries (68.7%). Patients with traumatic head injury from road traffic accidents were 5.8 times more likely to die than any other cause. The sex of the patient and the length of hospital stay had no significant influence on mortality from traumatic head injuries. Conclusions The postresuscitation Glasgow Coma Scale score, age of the patient, and mechanism of head injuries are important determining factors of outcome in traumatic head injuries, with the Glasgow Coma Scale score being the single most important determining factor. Efforts should be made at preventing such causes, with prompt and aggressive care instituted for cases at risk of unfavorable outcome.