[Profile of cranio-cerebral trauma and spinal cord trauma related road accidents in Guinea]. / Profil des traumatismes crânio-encéphalique et vertébro-médullaire liés aux accidents de la voie publique en Guinée.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the profile of the patient injured in traffic accidents and having a cranio-cerebral trauma (CCT) or spinal cord trauma (SCT). METHOD: Cross-sectional and retrospective survey of records management in 2829 road accident victims with CCT and/or a SCT and admitted to a hospital in Guinea between 1st January and 31st December, 2009. The profile was described by: the sociodemographic data, the circumstances of the accident and the clinical, therapeutic and follow-up data. RESULTS: For an average age of 27.1±12.7 years, the location of the trauma was cranio-cerebral in 82.0% of cases, spinal in 8.9% of cases and mixed in 9.1%. A large proportion of CCT (66.3%) and mixed trauma (63.1%) comes from to two-wheeled vehicles, while the large proportion of SCT (54.2%) is attributable to vehicles with four wheels. The Glasgow Coma average was 13.2±2.6 at admission, 21.7% of the victims are taken in charge beyond the first 12hours after the accident. Only 19.2% of patients underwent a surgical treatment with a hospital mortality ranging from 3.3 % (TVM) to 7.7% (mixed). CONCLUSION: CCT and SCT are characterized by an age under 30 years and male predominance. The support care suffers greatly from the unbalanced distribution of qualified personnel on the national territory and the lack of material means.

[Atypical neurosyphilis: 28 cases observed at the University Hospital Center of Conakry]. / Neurosyphilis atypique etude de 28 cas observes au CHU de Conakry.

This study describes a series of 28 cases of neurosyphylis presenting atypical oligosymptomatic syndromes involving epileptic attack, chronic headache, peripheral facial paralysis, deafness, isolated optic atrophy, and cerebral ataxia. Diagnosis was based on positive results (VDRL-TPHA) of serological reactions in blood samples and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid showing pleocytosis (mean lymphocyte level, 69%) and elevated protein levels. Epilepsy and chronic headache were the most common clinical manifestations. Brain scan demonstrated low-grade ventricular dilatation associated with nonspecific cerebral atrophy in 8 cases and isolated cerebral atrophy in three. In the remaining 17 cases brain scans were normal.

[Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Study of 32 cases observed in Conakry, Guinea]. / Panencéphalite sclérosante subaiguë. Etude de 32 cas observés à Conakry, Guinée.

Thirty two cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis were reported. Diagnosis was based on epidemiological, clinical and electroencephalographic data; myoclonies and alterations of intellectual functions were the most frequent symptoms.