TITLE:
Long-Term Cognitive Disorders in Head Trauma Patients at Yaounde General Hospital and Yaounde Central Hospital, Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Faustin Yepnjio, Leonard Ngarka, Loïc Wagoum Sonwa, Nadine Arielle Tsafack Lekane, Ernestine Renée Atangana Bikono, Arnaud Ghomo Douanla, Stéphanie Diane Oba Mintya, Leonel Lontsi Sonwa, Claude Carine Ngassam, Vincent De Paul Djientcheu
KEYWORDS:
Traumatic Brain Injury, Long-Term, Cognitive Disorders, Socio-Professional Reintegration
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Modern Neurosurgery,
Vol.16 No.3,
July
1,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background and Aim: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents the primary cause of death and disability before the age of 35. The after-effects, especially cognitive disorders, can persist over the long term and compromise the socio-professional reintegration of victims. This study aimed to evaluate cognitive disorders at one year and more in head trauma patients at the Yaounde General Hospital and the Yaounde Central Hospital. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study. Head injury patients aged 18 years or older, with an initial Glasgow score Results: A total of 112 head injured patients were included. median age was 36 years. Males predominated (sex ratio 9.2). Road traffic accidents accounted for 57.1% of the cases. A quarter (25.9%) of patients were admitted within the first six hours. The TBI was moderate in 59.8% of cases. CT scans were abnormal in 92.0% of cases. Treatment was surgical in 58.0% of cases. The median time between the trauma and the evaluation was 19 months (range 13 to 40). Two-thirds (68.8%) of patients had persistent long-term complaints. Twenty-three participants (21.3%) had not returned to work. Cognitive disorders were found in 58.0% of participants. Associated factors were low educational level (OR = 3.590; CI95% [1.098 - 11.731]; p = 0.034), long duration of coma (OR = 2.984; CI95% [1.298 - 6.859]; p = 0.010) and presence of sequelae at discharge (OR = 4.727; CI95% [1.916 - 11.660]; p = 0.001). Conclusion: Cognitive disorders are common in long-term head injury patients. They must always be taken into account, and their assessment will be essential for the better subsequent management necessary for the socio-professional reintegration of patients.