Publication: Demographic and Clinical Profiles of Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury Managed in a District Hospital in Nepal
Date
2023
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant cause of disability and mortality globally.
Information regarding clinical presentation and management of TBI patients in
the district hospital settings is inadequate, especially in low- and middle-income
countries.
Objective
This study aims to describe the demographic and clinical profiles of traumatic brain
injury patients in a district hospital setting in Nepal.
Method
This study was done at Chautara Hospital in Sindhupalchowk district from December
2021 to June 2022. Sixty-one patients were included using non-probability sampling.
The age and sex of patients, cause of injury, distance from the hospital, the severity
of the injury based on the Glasgow Coma Scale, site of trauma on the head, and
disposition of patients were analyzed.
Result
Sixty-one patients met the inclusion criteria out of which 29 were males and 32 were
females. The mean age of the patients was 42.5 years. The most frequent cause was
fall from height (23), and the most common injury site was the frontal region of the
head (29). Most patients had a mild injury (52) followed by severe (five). Only two
patients had moderate injury. Forty-two patients sustained injury within 5 kilometres
of the hospital. Thirty patients were referred to higher centres for further treatment.
Conclusion
Falls from height is the most common cause of traumatic brain injury followed by
road traffic accidents. As most of the cases are mild in severity, the availability of
trained human resources and telemedicine consultation in district hospitals can
substantially decrease referral to higher centres and therefore decrease the burden
of traumatic brain injury patients in the higher centres.
KEY WORDS
Glasgow coma scale, Imaging, Referral, Traumatic brain injury
Description
Thapa S,1 Baral A,1 Lal V,1 Bajracharya K,1 Sharma MR2
1Chautara District Hospital
Sindhupalchowk, Nepal
2Department of Neurosurgery
Maharajgunj Medical Campus
TU Teaching Hospital
Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
Keywords
Glasgow coma scale, Imaging, Referral, Traumatic brain injury