Acute Post-traumatic Intracranial Hematomas at the Bogodogo Uniersity Hospital, Burkina Faso: Management of 141 Cases

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Résumé

Introduction: Acute post-traumatic intracranial hematomas constitute a major neurosurgical emergency due to the high risk of
death or neurological sequelae. Their management relies on early diagnosis, primarily via computed tomography (CT) scan,
combined with appropriate medical and/or surgical treatment. In Burkina Faso, data concerning this condition remain limited.
Objective: To describe the epidemiological, clinical, radiological, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects of acute post-traumatic
intracranial hematomas treated at the Bogodogo University Hospital Center. Patients and methods: This was a retrospective
descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the Surgical Emergency, Anesthesia-Resuscitation and Orthopedics
Traumatology departments of the Bogodogo University Hospital between July 14, 2023 and July 13, 2025. All patients with an
acute post-traumatic intracranial hematoma confirmed by CT scan were included. Results: Among 915 recorded head injuries,
141 patients presented with an acute post-traumatic intracranial hematoma, representing a frequency of 15.4%. The mean age
was 31.5 ± 15.8 years, with a male predominance (68.8%; sex ratio = 2.2). Road traffic accidents accounted for 64.5% of the
injury mechanisms. The mean time to admission was 7 hours. All patients underwent a brain CT scan. Acute subdural hematomas
were the most frequent anatomical form (31.2%), followed by extradural hematomas (24.8%) and intraparenchymal hematomas
(23.4%). 91.5% of patients received exclusively medical management, while 8.5% underwent neurosurgical intervention. The
hospital mortality rate was 7.1%. Conclusion: Acute post-traumatic intracranial hematomas are a common condition in young
adults involved in traffic accidents. Improved prehospital management, rapid access to brain imaging, and enhanced
neurosurgical capabilities could help reduce mortality and long-term consequences.

Mots-clés

Head Trauma, Intracranial Hematoma, Neurosurgery, Computed Tomography, Burkina Faso