Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Traumatic Brain Injury Patients Managed at a Tertiary Hospital in Ghana

Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health issue, especially among young adults in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Sub-Saharan Africa faces a high TBI burden due to road accidents and limited emergency care. In Ghana, scarce data on TBI patients hampers prevention and health planning efforts. This study aimed to describe the socio-demographic characteristics, injury mechanisms, and clinical profiles of adult patients presenting with TBI at a tertiary referral hospital in Ghana. Method A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted at the Accident and Emergency Centre of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra. Adult patients (≥ 18 years) admitted with a diagnosis of TBI were consecutively recruited using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured electronic questionnaire, supplemented by clinical information extracted from electronic medical records. Results A total of 175 patients were included, with a mean age of 38.5 ± 13.5 years; 40.6% were aged 18–33 years. Most patients were male (89.1%) and had no pre-existing comorbidities (84%). Prehospital ambulance transport occurred in only 38.3% of cases. Road traffic accidents accounted for 73.1% of TBIs, with motorcycles involved in over half of these cases. Helmet and seatbelt use were low (19.4% and 7.4%, respectively). Most patients (n = 107) had mild TBI based on the Glasgow Coma Scale, though 34.9% were triaged as Red. Brain contusions were the most common CT finding. Approximately one-third of patients (30.29%) had severe injuries based on the Injury Severity Score, whereas the majority (70.29%) were classified as having mild injuries using the Kampala Trauma Score. Conclusion TBI at this tertiary centre predominantly affected young males and was largely due to motorcycle-related road traffic accidents, with limited prehospital care and low use of protective devices. These findings highlight the urgent need for strengthened road safety enforcement, improved prehospital emergency services, and context-specific trauma care strategies in Ghana.