Spontaneous atlanto-axial dislocation and trisomy 21: causal factors and management.

Spontaneous atlanto-axial (C1-C2) dislocation is an atlanto-axial instability, found in 10 to 30% of trisomy 21 patients, the majority of whom is asymptomatic. We report a case of a 21 years-old woman, with trisomy 21, admitted in our department presenting a spinal cord compression syndrome with right hemiparesis associated with a cervicalgia evolving for 3 months of admission without trauma. Standard cervical radiography showed a C1-C2 dislocation with posterior displacement of the odontoid process. A cervical computerized tomography revealed a C1-C2 dislocation with significant recoil of the odontoid process. A cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the bulbo-medullar junction compression on the dislocation. The surgical treatment consisted of a cervico-occipital fixation. The laxity of the transverse ligament is one of the main causes of C1-C2 dislocation; hypoplasia, malformation or complete absence of the odontoid process; are also predisposing factors. It must be early detected. The treatment of choice is surgical also by arthrodesis of C1 to C4 + graft and enlargement of the occipital foramen or occipito-cervical arthrodesis by synthetic graft and Cotrel-Dubousset system or occipito-C4 arthrodesis + laminectomy of C1 and enlargement of the occipital foramen.

Access to continued professional education among health workers in Blantyre, Malawi.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the current status of continued professional development (CPD) of healthcare personnel within the Ministry of Health (MoH) health centres in Blantyre, Malawi. DESIGN: A cross-sectional descriptive study utilizing an interviewer-administered questionnaire. SUBJECTS: Healthcare workers in public health centers in Blantyre District, Malawi. RESULTS: Fifty-seven healthcare workers participated of whom 47 (82.5%) were nurses, 8 (14.0%) were either medical assistants or clinical officers, and one laboratory technician and a dental therapist. At the time of the study, 50(87.7%) were prescribers and 54 (94.7%) had ever issued a prescription for medications. Participation in workshops and seminars within the past 12 months was reported by 54 (94.7%) of the participants and 49 (86.0%) reported that their health facilities had clinical hand-over meetings. All participants indicated desire to receive professional journals for free while only 35 (61.4%) were willing to pay for a journal subscription. Current personal and institutional subscription to a journal was low, at 2 (3.5%) each. About 30% had been trained to conduct research and 23 (40.1%) had ever conducted research with only 3 (5.3%) ever written a journal or newsletter article. 47.4% had access to a working phone at work and only 3 (5.3%) had access to internet facilities at all. Only 21% were satisfied with their own knowledge on health matters. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare professionals in Blantyre's DHO zone are using mostly clinical hand-over meetings, seminars and workshops for their CPD. There is need to improve access to relevant professional journals. The regulatory or licensing boards for healthcare professional in Malawi should seriously consider mandatory CPD credits for re-registration.