CT scan Positive Finding Pattern of Head Injury at the University of Gondar Hospital; North West Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Head injuries rank high among morbidities due to trauma. Computerized tomography is an important modality in the investigation of these cases. However, there is no literature on the importance of computerized tomography in the diagnosis of head injury in Ethiopia. This study therefore is aimed to document the computerized tomographic features of patients with head injury managed at the University of Gondar Teaching Hospital. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study involving 96 patients with head injury who had CT scan of the head in the UOG hospital over a 12-month period. Results: Most of the patients were male (74%).  Majority (58%) were in the age range of 20 to 40 years with a mean age of 31yrs. The most common abnormal findings were skull fracture (52%) and intracerebral hemorrhage and contusions (51%). It is followed by subdural hemorrhage (33%) soft tissue swelling 32% and epidural hemorrhage 10%. Conclusion:  Skull fracture and intra cerebral hemorrhage were the most common abnormal findings. This study has demonstrated the importance of CT scan in the evaluation of head injury by giving visibility of intracranial post traumatic injuries in a high proportion of patients which would be difficult to reach in to diagnosis clinically or using skull radiography alone. This obviously will have a significant role in improving patient management. Taking this in to account expansion of CT scan service for moderate to severe head injury patients is recommended in Ethiopia.