The neurological recovery in incomplete spinal injuries in our study was good, but poor in complete injury. Conservative treatment should be adopted in developing countries in patients with poor resources and in centers where facilities are not available for adequate imaging and surgical care. Trauma system is imperative in our country.

Objective: The objective of this study was to define the injury types found intracranially when head trauma occurs and possibly predict the type of injury seen with the different mechanisms of injury. Methods:We prospectively studied ninety-one patients presenting at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) over twenty-four months (February 2011 to February 2013 with head injury. Their socio-demographics and clinical data as well as the CT findings were collected. Statistical analysis was done using stata 10, stat corp, Texas USA, 2007. Frequency tables, bar chats, histograms and chi-square were used to analyse the data. Results:Ninety-one patients with head injury were seen. The age group of 20-29 and 40-49years were the commonest, median being twenty-nine years, interquartile range, 22-42years. Sixty four (70.3%) males, twenty seven (29.7%) females. The commonest mechanism of injury was RTA. Diffuse cerebral oedema, cerebral haemorrhage were the commonest brain events. No normal scan was seen. Skull fractures, especially comminuted ones were the commonest. CT findings in each case could not be predicted from the mechanism of injury. Conclusion:This study reveals that a typical head injured patient in our locality is a male aged 20 -29 years, involved in an RTA. Since it is impossible to predict the CT scan findings using the mechanism of injury, CT scans should be made available in all hospitals so as to appropriately manage these types of patients.

Background: Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major challenge to the patient, the relatives, the care givers, and the society in general. The primary and secondary injuries, and the high metabolism are formidable stages of the injury, each capable of taking the life of the patient. The objectives were to determine the etiology and outcome in severe traumatic brain injuries patients. Methods: This was a prospective study on patients with severe traumatic brain injury patients managed in our center from August 2010 to December 2014. Patients were resuscitated in accident and emergency unit using Advanced Trauma Life Support protocols. Those with Glasgow Coma scale scores ≤8 were included in the study.Data were collected with structured proforma which was component of our prospective data bank that was approved by our ethics committee, and were analyzed with Environmental Performance Index info 7 software Results: One hundred and ten patients were studied. Males were 86. The mean age Was 31.43 years. Ninety six were involved in road traffic accident. Seventy seven patients had favorable outcome. Conclusion: The commonest etiology was road traffic accident.Seventy seven patients had favorable outcome.