[Neurosurgical management of head injury in Parakou, Benin: use of radiography].

AIMS: To report useful of skull X-Ray in surgical management of traumatic brain injuries in Benin.

METHOD: Descriptive study performed in the Neurosurgery Unit of CHD-Borgou in the North-East of Benin. It concerned 29 cases of TBI all operated between April 2008 and June 2009 on clinical and radiographic criteria.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 23.46 SD 14.28 years with a male prevalence (93.10%). On the basis of Glasgow Coma Scale scores 9 patients (31%) presented a severe TBI, 15 (51.8%) moderate TBI and 5 (17.2%) mild TBI. The skull radiography showed a depressive fracture at 17 (58.6%) patients, vault fracture at 7 (24.2%) and no lesion in 5 (17.2%) cases. Surgical management was performed on 3 (10.3%) cases cranial wound, 4 (13.8%) cases of extradural hematoma, 17 (58.6%) cases of skull depressive fracture and 5 (17.2%) cases an exploring buhr hole. The Depressive fracture straightening up was associated with surgical management of 3 extradural hematoma, 3 osteodural defect and 4 debridement with duroplasty.

CONCLUSION

The skull radiography cannot compensate for Brain CT-scan for management of TBI. It can nevertheless bring invaluable information allowing a surgical purpose.