État des Lieux des Traumatismes du Thorax en Afrique Sub-Saharienne : Étude de 358 Cas à Yaoundé: State of Thoracic Trauma in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Study of 358 Cases in Yaoundé

Abstract

Introduction: Thoracic trauma is the second leading cause of trauma-related mortality worldwide. Their incidence is steadily increasing in Sub-Saharan Africa. Injuries are often insidious and unrecognized. Nevertheless, few data are available. The aim of this study was to assess the state of thoracic trauma in two referral hospitals in Yaoundé. Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study with a collection period running from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2020 at the Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire de Yaoundé and the Centre des Urgences de Yaoundé. 358 records of patients admitted for thoracic trauma were included and data analyzed on SPSS 23. Results: The average annual hospital frequency of thoracic trauma was 16.5%. The median age was 30±3 years, with a sex ratio of 5H/1F. The 20-40 age group (60%) was in the majority. Closed trauma (89%) predominated, and was most often caused by traffic accidents (67.5%). Pulmonary contusion (65.3%) was the most frequent injury. Cranioencephalic trauma (56.6%) was the main associated injury. Treatment was mostly conservative without drainage (69.9%). The thoracotomy rate was 7%. Acute respiratory distress syndrome was the main complication (30%). The overall mortality rate was 13.6%. Conclusion: The profile of thoracic trauma patients remains similar to past publications. However, management methods and morbidity and mortality have improved.