An Audit of Malignant Oro-facial Tumors Presenting at a Tertiary Hospital in Lagos.

Oro-facial malignancies are reported to have a high mortality and morbidity, this is further worsened when patient report late. To analyze the malignant oro-facial lesions seen at a Hospital in the Lagos, Nigeria. Successive patients that presented in the hospital and met criteria of study during 15 months period were recruited into the study. Demographics, clinical variables, and treatment provided for each patient in the hospital was recorded. Data collected were presented as tables and percentages. There were 36 cases seen, their ages ranged from 10 to 72 years (median 49 years), and there were 21 males and 15 females. Time lapse before presentation to the clinic ranged from 2 to 30 months, mean (9.9 (±5.5 months and the largest dimension of lesions at presentation ranged from 2 cm to 12 cm (mean 6.4 ± 2.0 cm). Most common site of presentation was posterior tongue (16.7%; 6/36) and Squamous cell carcinoma (41.6%; 15/36) was the most common histopathologic diagnosis. Twenty-three patients (63.9%; 23/36) had primary surgeries in the hospital. Patients seen in this case series generally reported late with large lesions.

Self-Reported Medical Conditions and Oral Health Status of Patients seen in a Nigerian Dental Clinic.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of self-reported medical conditions among patients attending a dental clinic in Nigeria. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Oral Diagnosis Clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect bio-data and history of medical conditions. Oral examination was carried out on all the patients. Teeth present, carious teeth, mobile teeth and the oral hygiene status were recorded. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS statistical software. RESULTS: The prevalence of self-reported medical conditions in this study was 22.1%. Hypertension was the most prevalent (10.3%), followed by allergies (4.4%), diabetes mellitus (4%) and gastrointestinal disorders (3%). Hypertension (p=0.000) and diabetes (p=0.000) had a statistically significant association with increasing age. The prevalence of medical conditions increased significantly with the increased number of mobile teeth (p=0.033). There was no statistically significant association between the self-reported medical conditions and the number of carious teeth (p=0.619), the oral hygiene status (p=0.765) and the educational level (p=0.712). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of medical conditions among the dental patients was moderate.

Management of dental anxiety: a survey of Nigerian dentists

Background: Dental anxiety is a major issue with respect to provisions of and access to dental care. We evaluated the knowledge and management of anxiety among Nigerian dentists. Materials and Methods: The study population included 192 Nigerian dentists recruited during an annual national dental conference in Abuja. The conference was a meeting point for dentists with post graduation experience ranging between 1 and 32 years and from different part of the country. They completed a structured questionnaire on dental anxiolysis. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 16. Results: Of the interviewed dentists; 122 (55.1) practiced in teaching hospitals and 24 had their specialization in child dental health. A total of 34 (19.8) dentists had been exposed to formal trainings on the practice of dental anxiolysis. Of this number; 66 had basic life support training and only 11.8 had refresher training programs. The most preferred route of administration of anxiolytic drugs was oral (57.3). Most of the respondents were of the view that dental anxiolysis should not be instituted for all dental patients. Conclusion: The interviewed Nigerian dentists were knowledgeable and managed dental anxiety. Although some of them had no formal training on dental anxiolysis; the major consensus is that dental anxiolysis should not be instituted for all dental patients

An evaluation of surgical outcome of bilateral cleft lip surgery using a modified Millard's (Fork Flap) technique.

BACKGROUND: The central third of the face is distorted by the bilateral cleft of the lip and palate and restoring the normal facial form is one of the primary goals for the reconstructive surgeons. The history of bilateral cleft lip repair has evolved from discarding the premaxilla and prolabium and approximating the lateral lip elements to a definitive lip and primary cleft nasal repair utilising the underlying musculature. The aim of this study was to review surgical outcome of bilateral cleft lip surgery (BCLS) done at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of all cases of BCLS done between January 2007 and December 2012 at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital was done. Data analysis included age and sex of patients, type of cleft deformity and type of surgery (primary or secondary) and whether the cleft deformity was syndromic and non-syndromic. Techniques of repair, surgical outcome and complications were also recorded. RESULTS: A total of 39 cases of BCLS involving 21 males and 18 females were done during the period. This constituted 10% (39/390) of all cases of cleft surgery done during the period. There were 5 syndromic and 34 non-syndromic cases. Age of patients at time of surgery ranged between 3 months and 32 years. There were 24 bilateral cleft lip and palate deformities and 15 bilateral cleft lip deformities. Thirty-one of the cases were primary surgery, while 8 were secondary (revision) surgery. The most common surgical technique employed was modified Fork flap (Millard) technique, which was employed in 37 (95%) cases. CONCLUSION: Bilateral cleft lip deformity is a common cleft deformity seen in clinical practice, surgical repair of which can be a challenge to an experienced surgeon. A modified Fork flap technique for repair of bilateral cleft lip is a reliable and versatile technique associated with excellent surgical outcome.