Predictors of Mortality Among Patients With Head Trauma

Head injuries are a major cause of morbidity and mortality through out the world. It is estimated that 69 million people suffer from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) from all cases per year .

Current estimates suggest that about 4.48 million people lose their lives due to injuries which accounts for 8% of all deaths globally. Of these, an estimated 2 million deaths were attributed to the TBI, and the burden was concentrated in developing countries due to limited access to advanced life-sustaining measures after trauma .

In low-and middle-income countries, head injury patients have worse outcomes than patients in high-income countries . Several studies in Africa have found that death rates from head injury range from 4.2% to 35% .

Evidence suggests that the possible causes for the high mortality rate could be older age, male gender,low GCS, and cause of injuries are likely non-modifiable risk factors and hypoxia, hypotension, hyperthermia, hypo or hyperglycemia, and did not undergo surgery or poor adherence to management guidelines are possible modifiable risk factors .

Clinical presentation of patients and advanced rescue care by emergency teams are crucial factors to determining favorable outcomes. Accordingly, non-surgical management should emphases on rapid transportation, avoiding hypotension and hypoxia, hyperthermia, and medical management to reduce brain edema .