Characteristics, Context and Injury Mechanism of Traumatic Brain Injuries at Laquintinie Hospital in Douala: An In-Depth Analysis Over 5 Years.

Objective: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) impact public health. In Cameroon, few studies have been conducted to map its current burden. The aim of this study was to characterise TBI over 5 years among patients treated at the Laquintinie Hospital of Douala (LHD) in Cameroon. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study over 5 years (January 2023 to December 2017) at the Neurosurgery Department of LHD. During this period, we enrolled 8,902 patients. We registered sociodemographic data, context, injury mechanism and etiologies of TBI from the department's database. The data was analysed using R software and Pearson's χ2 test of independence or Fisher's exact test were used as association tests. Results: The mean age of the patients was 34±15 years (1-99 years). Majority were men (78%), lived in urban areas (96%) and were self-employed (35%). TBI were classified as mild (83.4%), moderate (11.3%) and severe (5.4%). Road traffic accidents was the major cause of TBI (79%), involving motorbike taxis (53%) and pedestrians (34%). Alcohol consumption (14%) and vehicle overloading (22%) were associated with injuries. Poor safety measures through non use of seatbelts and helmets were associated with the severity of TBI. Mortality was significantly more common in severe cases (2%) compared to moderate (1.1%) and mild cases (0.4%). Conclusion: Preventive measures targeting road safety, alcohol consumption and vehicle overloading are essential to reduce the prevalence of TBIs in Cameroon.