Background: Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) constitute a complex public health emergency, particularly in resource-limited settings such as the Democratic republic of Congo (DRC). Accurate characterization of local profiles is essential for optimizing care pathways, including rehabilitation.
Objectives: To determine the epidemiological, clinical, and computed tomography characteristics of patients admitted for TBI and to identify the factors associated with lesion severity at Colonel Thiatshi Military Hospital in Kinshasa.
Methods: A retrospective a descriptive documentary study was conducted by analyzing 200 consecutive patient records managed between January 2020 and December 2024. The data collected included age, mechanism of trauma, Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score, and classification of computed tomography lesions according to Marshall and Rotterdam. Statistical test, including Chi-square and logistic regression, were used to evaluate associations (OR with 95% CI)
Results: A masculine predominance was noted (70%), with Road Traffic accident (RTA) as the major etiology (59M). A local particularity was observed: the most affected age group was patients over 50 years old (36%), which contrasts with typical data in sub-Saharan Africa. The most frequent CT lesions were cerebral contusions (34, 5%). Inferential analysis showed that advanced age (OR=2, 5; 95% CI: 1, 3 -4, 8) and an initial GCS <13 (OR=3, 1; 95% CI: 1, 7-5, 5) are significant predictors of severe CT lesions (Marshall II to VI).
Conclusion: The epidemiological profile of TBI in Kinshasa is marked by an older population, which is most at risk of severe brain lesions. These results require not only the standardization of prognostic evaluation through the systematic use of CT scores but, above all, the development and strengthening of physiotherapy and neurological rehabilitation services to specifically manage the functional sequelae in this vulnerable geriatric population.
International Journal of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging
