Role of Computed Tomography in the Evaluation of Traumatic Head Injury at Nepalgunj Medical College Teaching Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Traumatic head injury  is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-in come countries. Early identification of intracranial lesions is crucial for appropriate management. Computed tomography has become the imaging modality of choice in acute head injury due to its rapid availability and high diagnostic accuracy.

Aims: To evaluate the role of Computed tomography  scan in detecting intracranial lesions and its association with clinical parameters in 
patients presenting with traumatic head injury.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Nepalgunj Medical College Teaching Hospital from September 2025 to April 2026. A total of 150 patients with traumatic head injury who underwent Computed tomography scan were included. Data regarding demographic characteristics, mechanism of injury, Glasgow Coma Scale, and Computed tomography findings were collected and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25. Associations between variables were assessed using the chi-square test, and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Out of 150 patients, 65.3% were male, and the majority belonged to the 21–40 years age group (42%). Road traffic accidents were the most common cause of injury (58%). Computed tomography abnormalities were observed in 61.3% of cases. A strong statistically significant association was found between Glasgow Coma Scale and Computed tomography findings (p = 0.002), whereas no significant association was observed between sex and Computed tomography findings (p = 0.21). Age showed a statistically significant but weak association with Computed tomography findings (p = 0.048).

Conclusion: Computed tomography scan plays a crucial role in the early detection of intracranial injuries and shows strong correlation with clinical severity, making it an essential tool in the management of traumatic head injury.