[Neurosurgical management of head injury in Parakou, Benin: use of radiography].

Aims: To report useful of skull X-Ray in surgical management of traumatic brain injuries in Benin.

Method: Descriptive study performed in the Neurosurgery Unit of CHD-Borgou in the North-East of Benin. It concerned 29 cases of TBI all operated between April 2008 and June 2009 on clinical and radiographic criteria.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 23.46 SD 14.28 years with a male prevalence (93.10%). On the basis of Glasgow Coma Scale scores 9 patients (31%) presented a severe TBI, 15 (51.8%) moderate TBI and 5 (17.2%) mild TBI. The skull radiography showed a depressive fracture at 17 (58.6%) patients, vault fracture at 7 (24.2%) and no lesion in 5 (17.2%) cases. Surgical management was performed on 3 (10.3%) cases cranial wound, 4 (13.8%) cases of extradural hematoma, 17 (58.6%) cases of skull depressive fracture and 5 (17.2%) cases an exploring buhr hole. The Depressive fracture straightening up was associated with surgical management of 3 extradural hematoma, 3 osteodural defect and 4 debridement with duroplasty.

Conclusion: The skull radiography cannot compensate for Brain CT-scan for management of TBI. It can nevertheless bring invaluable information allowing a surgical purpose.