@article{ref1,
title="Prospective study of surgery for traumatic brain injury in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: trauma causes, injury types and clinical presentation",
journal="World neurosurgery",
year="2021",
author="Laeke, Tsegazeab and Tirsit, Abenezer and Kassahun, Azarias and Sahlu, Abat and Debebe, Tequam and Yesehak, Betelehem and Masresha, Samuel and Deyassa, Negussie and Moen, Bente E. and Lund-Johansen, Morten and Sundstrøm, Terje",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a public health problem in Ethiopia. We need more knowledge about the epidemiology and neurosurgical management of TBI patients to identify possible focus areas for quality improvement and preventive efforts. <br><br>METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional study (2012-2016) at the four teaching hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. All surgically treated TBI patients were included, and details on clinical presentation, injury types and trauma causes were registered. <br><br>RESULTS: We included 1087 patients (mean age 29 years; 8.7% females; 17.1% < 18 years of age). Only 15.5% of TBIs were classified as severe (Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score 3-8). Depressed skull fracture (DSF; 44.9%) and epidural hematoma (EDH; 39%) were the most frequent injuries. Very few patients were polytraumatized (3.1%). Assault was the most common injury mechanism (69.9%) followed by road traffic accidents (RTA; 15.8%) and falls (8.1%). More than 80% of patients came from within 200 kms of the hospitals, but the median time to admission was 24 hours. Most assault victims (80.4%) were injured more than 50 kms from the hospitals, whereas 46% of RTA victims came from the urban area. Delayed admission was associated with higher GCS scores and non-severe TBI (p < 0.01). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The injury panorama, delayed admission and few operations for severe TBI are linked to a substantial patient selection both before and after hospital admission. Our results also suggest that there should be a geographical framework for tailored guidelines, preventive efforts and development of prehospital and hospital services.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1878-8750",
doi="10.1016/j.wneu.2021.02.003",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2021.02.003"
}