The National Head Injury Foundation considers TBI to be any brain injury resulting from an external force that causes a decrease or alteration in consciousness, impairment of cognitive or physical abilities, and producing behavioural or emotional problems [1].

In the United States, the number of patients admitted to emergency departments for traumatic brain injury (TBI) is estimated at 1.5 million per year [2]. Of these patients, 50,000 will die and one third will suffer mild to severe neuropsychological consequences that will last for a long time. In 2004, it was estimated that 5.3 million people were living in this country with more or less severe after-effects of TCE [2]. Although it is difficult to give precise figures, the “financial burden” of managing these patients was estimated to be $60 billion per year [2]. The same is true in England where 4% of emergency admissions are related to CTE [3]. Many studies have focused on codifying the therapeutic management of the most serious TCEs (TCG), but it should be borne in mind that “non-severe” TCEs (Glasgow coma score > 8) are the most frequent and are responsible for a morbidity and mortality that is not negligible insofar as it could be avoided [4]. Their consequences in terms of morbidity, mortality, physical and psychological sequelae, and socio-economic impact, especially on the most active segments of the population, represent a major public health problem for all countries. Once the preserve of industrial countries [5] [6] [7], in recent decades it has become an increasing concern also in developing countries [8] [9]. Despite improvements in investigation and treatment techniques, the morbidity and mortality associated with this disease are still very high [5] [10] [11].

In sub-Saharan Africa, CTE is becoming increasingly problematic [9] [12] with the uncontrolled development of cities; according to numerous studies, the incidence varies from 3.5 to 7 per 1000 inhabitants and morbidity is very high even for mild or moderate CTE [9] [13]. In Niger, the situation has become alarming in the last ten years, due to traffic accidents, the leading cause of CTE [14]. Although there are many studies in the field of head trauma, very few have focused on the evaluation of the neurological sequelae of patients with head trauma. In Zinder, a town located in the south-east of the country, no study has yet been carried out in this area. This justifies the present study on the evaluation of the neurological sequelae of cranioencephalic trauma at the university hospital of Zinder in order to improve the care of patients in our context of a country with limited means.

Type and period of study

This was a cross-sectional, retrospective and descriptive study carried out in the Emergency Department, Neurosurgery Department and Anaesthesia and Resuscitation Department (SAR) of the National Hospital of Zinder from January 1, 2016 to April 30, 2018, i.e. a period of 38 months.

The diagnostic criteria were based on anamnestic, clinical and imaging data.

Brain scan was the most commonly used imaging test.

Study population

The study population consisted of patients admitted to the Emergency Department, the Neurosurgery Department and the Intensive Care Unit.

During the study period, 878 cranioencephalic trauma cases were identified, of which 357 (40.7% of cases) were retained. They represented 2.3% of admissions (15378) to the National Hospital of Zinder, all categories combined, and 7.1% of emergencies (5023) admitted during the same period.

The patients were 90.2% male and 9.8% female. The sex ratio was 9.2.

The average age of the patients was 28.8 ± 15.8 years with extremes ranging from 6 months to 97 years.

Time of admission and mode of onset of CTE Patients admitted between the second and twenty-fourth hour accounted for 94.2% of cases.

Of the circumstances of occurrence, 322 cases (90.1%) were caused by road traffic accidents, 83% of which were caused by motorbike accidents.

On admission, the haemodynamic status of the patients was stable in 89.3% of cases (319 patients) and unstable in 30 cases (8.4%). The hemodynamic status was not specified in 7 patients (2%).

Complementary investigations were carried out in 253 patients (71.2%), including 233 cranioencephalic scans (65.3%) (Table 1) which revealed several lesions (Table 2). Cerebral contusion was the most representative lesion found on these scans.

Neurosurgical management was performed in 70 patients (19.6%).

The average hospital stay was 12.8 days with extremes of 2 days and 50 days.

Recovery without immediate sequelae was found in 230 patients (64.7%).

Late sequelae were dominated by chronic headaches (47.6%) followed by epileptic seizures (7.2%) (Table 3).

The unequal distribution of neurosurgeons and especially the lack of technical facilities pose a problem of adequate management. Our inclusion criteria were a function of our diagnostic means. However, they allowed us to have a panoramic view of all cranioencephalic trauma patients and to reach our objectives set at the beginning.

During the study period, 357 cases of cranioencephalic trauma were retained. They represented 7.1% of the 5023 emergencies admitted during the same period. This finding is in line with the work of Fatigba et al. [15] in Parakou, Benin, in 2011, who reported 149 cases of cranioencephalic trauma in one year. In Niger, in Niamey, Guidah et al. [16] reported 311 patients in 2 years who were admitted for cranioencephalic trauma.

The 90.2% male predominance that we found is similar to the 93.1% observed in 2009 by Fatigba et al. [17] and higher than the 79.45% found by Moumouni et al. in Cotonou [18], in Benin. This male predominance has also been reported by several authors in different countries [19] [20] [21]. These results could be explained by the fact that most men carry out activities that expose them more to cranioencephalic trauma than women. In Zinder, the socio-cultural context requires women to stay at home and look after the household. The men are the ones who are most involved in professional activities in order to ensure a financial balance in the home.

The cranioencephalic injuries concerned all ages, ranging from 6 months to 97 years, with an average age of 28.8 years. This average is identical to that reported by Fatigba et al. in 2009 and Adje in 2011 in Benin [15] [22]. Other studies are identical to our observations: Gouello [23] in Nantes who reported an average age of 33 years, Aguemonetal [24] in Benin, an average of 32 years, Vayre et al. [25] in France reported an average of 32.8 years. The 20 to 30 age group was the most affected (33.7%). Traumatic encephalic disorders therefore occur in young adults who constitute the most active population. In Niger, the demographic pyramid is predominantly made up of young adults, which confirms the results observed.

After the trauma, 94.2% of patients among direct admissions and 83.6% among referred patients were received between the second and twenty-fourth hour. Adje [22] in Benin reported that 34.8% of patients were admitted in less than one hour. Djeutcheu [26] in Mali reported in his study that 78.7% of patients were admitted less than one hour after the head injury. This discrepancy can be explained by the fact that many patients lived in towns and villages that were not very close to the city of Zinder and therefore took a relatively long time to find a vehicle to take the victim to the national hospital. Some patients were not directly admitted to the hospital. They were taken to regional hospitals, district health centres and medical practices where they sometimes stayed for several days before being referred.

The most used means of transport was the non-medical car and accounted for 85.2% of the cases. Ambulances were used in 5.3% of cases to transport patients. Pre-hospital care is a real problem as in most countries south of the Sahara [18]. The lack of ambulances, the absence of an emergency number and the fact that the accident site was far from the hospital were factors that justified the use of non-medicalised cars to transfer our patients to hospital.

Road traffic accidents were the main cause of cranioencephalic trauma as found by several authors [6] [18] [27] - [32]. This high rate of occurrence is due to the fact that road traffic accidents are the most common mechanism for the occurrence of traumatic brain injuries. The anarchic development of cities and the increasingly frequent use of two-wheeled vehicles without protective measures (helmets) are favourable factors.

Cranioencephalic trauma is a real public health problem in our region with a high frequency of admission to intensive care. The morbidity and mortality rate remains high and affects all age groups of the population, but mainly young males. Pre-hospital care is non-existent. The technical facilities are still very inadequate for optimal care of these injuries. Late sequelae occurred mainly in patients admitted for moderate cranioencephalic trauma. These late sequelae are dominated by persistent headaches followed by epileptic seizures and neurological deficits. Advanced age has a negative influence on the prognosis of the patient both in terms of survival and functional recovery.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Rabiou, M.S., Moumouni, A.K., Tabe, A.T., Kpelao, E., Hounkpatin, S., Taofik, M., Babana, A.A., Ajavon, D.R.D., Kelani, A. and Sanoussi, S. (2022) Neurological Sequelae in Cranioencephalic Trauma Patients at the National Hospital in Zinder (Niger). Open Journal of Modern Neurosurgery, 12, 104-115. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojmn.2022.122011