Pathology of death from severe head injuries in Rivers State: a study of sixty eight consecutive cases in five years.

BACKGROUND

Traumatic head injury and subsequent death is a public health problem in Nigeria. There is an urgent need to study the various factors leading to this problem.

OBJECTIVE

To study the cause and characteristic of fatal head injuries.

DESIGN/SETTING: A five year (1998 2003) autopsy study in Rivers State, Nigeria.

RESULT

A total of 68 deaths from severe head injuries were studied. Traumatic head injury occurred in every age of both sexes. The youngest was a day old female while the oldest was a 72 year old male. The age group 20 29 years was most affected 26 (30.9%). Males were 55 (82.4%) and females 13 (17.6%) giving a ratio of 4.7:1. Road traffic accident 25 (36.8%) and gunshot 16 (23.5%) were the most common cause of head injury and death. Fractures of the vault of the skull 37 (54.4%) were the most common type of head injury and death. Others include fracture of the base of skull 15 (22.1%), combined fracture of the base of skull and vault 4 (5.9%). Intracranial hemorrhage 9 (13.2%), cerebral laceration 2 (2.9%) and cerebral contusion 1 (1.5%). There were associated injuries in 36(52.9%) cases.

CONCLUSION

Head injury is most common cause of death especially in road traffic accidents, gun shot and assault in this environment. There is an urgent need to address the frequency of RTA and gun handling to drastically reduce these fatalities.