Clinical and cranial computed tomography scan findings in adults following road traffic accidents in Kampala, Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Globally, road traffic accidents are a major cause of death and disability. The developing countries bear a disproportionately large share of the RTAs which account for about 85% of the deaths. Most of these RTAs result in head injury, which globally, most scholars and medical practitioners consider a significant economic, social and medical problem. In Mulago National referral hospital, RTA is the leading cause of surgical admission.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the cranial computed tomography (CT) scan findings in adults following RTA in Mulago hospital.

METHODS: Using CT, detailed analysis of 178 adult patients with head injury following RTA was performed. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 and presented in tables and graphs. Data recorded included socio-demographic characteristics, clinical and CT variables.

RESULTS: Seventy seven percent of the respondents were between 18-39 years. 52.6% of patients had open head injury. Headache was the most common clinical variable followed by dizziness and aphasia. The most common CT characteristic was extra cerebral haemorrhage followed by brain oedema and raised Intra-cranial pressure (ICP). Intra-cerebral haemorrhage was commonest in the frontal lobe followed by parietal lobe.

CONCLUSION: Public health interventions like advocacy and education of the population on safe and responsible road usage should be emphasized to reduce on RTAs.