Neurosurgical In-Patient Profile: A Three-Year Audit in a Regional Centre

Abstract

The burden of neurosurgical care in West Africa, compared with established facilities in Europe and America, is immense. The reasons include preventable neurotrauma, the dearth of specialists and a lack of a regional centre for neurosurgical care. The few unevenly spread established neurosurgical units can only meet the needs of a few. This study is an appraisal of neurosurgical care in a Teaching Hospital facility established in 1973, but commencing specialist neurosurgical care in 2006. Nine hundred and twenty-six (926)bpatients were admitted into neurosurgical care. They were aged 16 days to 90 years. Male to female ratio was 3.3: 1; patients aged 21 to 40 years accounted for approximately 50%. The commonest indication for admission was traumatic brain injury, 66.5%. Mortality rate was 14% correlating with need for intensive care admission, percentage of severe traumatic brain injuries and advancing age.