title: [Value of computer tomography in the managment of brain injuries].
abstract: The purpose of this prospective study conducted from January 2001 to December 2001 was to ascertain the value of computer tomography for evaluation of brain injuries. Computer tomography was performed using a Toshiba X VID system with contiguous 5 mm axial sections through the posterior fossa and 10 mm contiguous axial sections through the subtentorial region without contrast injection. A total of 107 patients with brain injuries were enrolled over the one-year study period. These patients accounted for 0.8% of all admissions to surgical emergency unit of Gabriel Toure Hospital in Bamako, Mali. The predominant age group for brain injuries was the 20- to 29-year-old group (35 cases). The male-to-female sex ratio was 5:1. Vehicular accident was the most frequent cause of brain injury (76 cases). Trauma was severe in 48 patients with a Glasgow score less than 8. Coma occurred immediately after injury in 90 cases. Ventricular hemorrhage led to coma in 100% of cases whereas brain hemorrhage and hematoma led to coma in 93.3% and 83.3% of cases respectively. Treatment was medical in 99 cases and neurosurgical in 8. The mortality rate was 34% and the morbidity rate (permanent sequels) was 36%. Computer tomography is a valuable tool for therapeutic decision-making in medico-surgical emergencies involving brain injuries.
authors.affiliation: Faculte de Medecine de Bamako, Service de Radiologie et d'Imagerie Médicale hôpital du Point G, BP 333, Bamako, Mali. kad@mrtcbko.org
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Keita
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toure
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sissako
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doumbia
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Coulibaly
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Doumbia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Diallo
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Toure
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Traore
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed