[Skull injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents, Benin].

AIMS: The goal of this study was to report skull vault injuries characteristics among motorcyclists after crash.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

It was descriptive study performed at the Departmental Hospital of Borgou, Benin from January 2008 to April 2009. It concerned motorcyclists hospitalized after traffic accidents. They undergoing skull X-ray and or Brain CT-scan.

RESULTS

On 106 patients answering the criteria of inclusions, 40 (37,7%) presented a lesion of the skull vault. Sex ratio M:F was 4,71. The mean age was 24,55 years. Skull X-Ray was performed in 25 cases, CT- scan in 9 and both in 6.A fracture was observed in 22 patients (55%), a depressive fracture in 13 (32,5%) patients, an association fracture and depressive fracture in 5 patients (12,5%). The location was: frontal 47,5%, parietal 22,5%, temporal 7,5%, occipital 2,5%. Intracranial lesions were identified in 12 (80%) of 15 patients receiving CT-scanning.

CONCLUSION

The skull vault lesions observed after motorcycle crash in our study are worrying. Helmet use law may reduce these injuries and they can be better explored by a technical conditions strengthened.