EDITORIAL

Traumatic Brain Injury Management in Nigeria

A Critical Review of Systemic Challenges and Integrated, Context-Specific Solutions
Francis Chukwuebuka Campbell 1

1Delta State University /Delta state University Teaching Hospital

DOI: 10.4314/ajtmbr.v9i1.%x
Published: July 31, 2026

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability in Nigeria, driven overwhelmingly by road traffic accidents and affecting the young, economically productive demographic. Yet the health system is poorly equipped to meet this burden. This editorial reviews evidence on challenges spanning the entire continuum of TBI care, from very poor prehospital systems and severe diagnostic bottlenecks to an extreme shortage of neurosurgeons and limited rehabilitation services. It also attempts to integrate practical, evidence-based solutions, some of which are already being piloted within the country. The review will draw on recent Nigerian epidemiological studies, workforce analyses, and nascent national guideline initiatives to propose a coordinated strategy-driven approach. The analysis demonstrates that the necessary tools and local evidence exist; what is absent is the political will and sustained investment to unite fragmented ideas into a coherent national system. This Nigerian case study offers transferable lessons for low-resource settings globally.

Keywords

Neurosurgery Secondary Brain Injury Health Systems Strengthening Prehospital Emergency Care Traumatic Brain Injury

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Published in Vol. 9 No. 1: African Journal of Tropical Medicine and Biomedical Research, July 2026

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Campbell FC. Traumatic Brain Injury Management in Nigeria: A Critical Review of Systemic Challenges and Integrated, Context-Specific Solutions. Afr. J. Trop. Med. Biomed. Res. [Internet]. 2026 Jul. 31 [cited 2026 Aug. 27];9(1):7–14. Available from: https://www.ajtmbr.org.ng/index.php/home/article/view/tbi-management-nigeria
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