Pattern and outcome of traumatic spinal cord injury managed at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Understanding pattern and outcome of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) will inform better management which expectedly would improve prognosis and minimise complications. METHODS: : A retrospective study was carried out on all managed TSCI cases from January 2009 to December 2018. Sociodemographic characteristics, injury type, cause and complications were extracted from patients' registers and case folders. Descriptive statistics summarised the data, and Fisher's exact test analysed associations between variables. RESULTS: Eighty-one cases met the inclusion criteria and were analysed. Most cases (91.4%) were males, aged 18-39 years (65.4%) and were civil servants (37.0%). Road traffic accident (RTA) was the leading cause of injury (37.0%) and incomplete lesion predominated (69.1%). Cases referred for physiotherapy constituted 77.8%, only 14.8% of cases recovered without neurological deficits. On discharge, most patients were wheelchair bound (33.3%). Region of spine affected showed significant association with complications developed (P = 0.01). RTA caused more dead as a cause of injury was found to be significantly associated with outcome (P = 0.04). Referral for physiotherapy showed significant association with outcome (P = 0.01), so also, region of spine affected with outcome (0.01). The study found a significant association between type of injury and functional status (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: : The study concludes that young adults of working class were mostly affected, and RTA and gunshots injuries were the leading causes of TSCI. Findings such as the association found between regions of spine affect and complication developed on admission will help healthcare providers identify those susceptible and offer prompt preventive measures.

Impact of physical activity and traumatic exposure on occurrence of gestational hypertension: a survey of pregnant women in an armed-conflict region in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: To compare physical activity level and traumatic exposure between normotensive and hypertensive pregnant women in an armed conflict region of Nigeria. METHODS: 130 normotensives and hypertensive pregnant women comprising of 65 participants per group participated in the study. Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire were used to assess traumatic events and physical activity respectively. RESULTS: Significant difference was observed on total traumatic event (p = 0.008) and all domains and intensities of physical activity except inactivity and sedentary (p > 0.05). Household activities (OR: 0.989; 95% CI: 0.981-0.996), occupational activities (OR: 0.936; 95%CI: 0.879-0.996) and sport/exercise activities (OR: 0.898; 95%CI: 0.832-0.969) were associated with a decrease hypertensive pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Despite exposed to traumatic events, physical activity is associated with normotensive pregnancy in an armed conflict region.

Association between adolescent motherhood and maternal and child health indices in Maiduguri, Nigeria: a community-based cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Adolescent motherhood (childbearing below 18 years of age) is a major global health and social problem. Understanding the impact of early motherhood on maternal and child health indices is important to community and population health promotion in developing countries. This study examined the association between adolescent motherhood and maternal and child health indices in Maiduguri, Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional design method was used to recruit 220 mothers (age=14-25 years) from four communities in the city of Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria. Participants were surveyed using a self-developed interviewer-administered questionnaire that assesses maternal and child health indices and sociodemographic characteristics. Logistic regression analysis was used to compute adjusted OR and 95% CI of the associations between motherhood in adolescence (mothers below 18 years old) and maternal and child health indices. RESULTS: Compared to adult mothers, adolescent mothers were more likely to experience fistula (OR=5.01, 95% CI=3.01 to 14.27), to have postpartum haemorrhage (OR=6.83, 95% CI=2.93 to 15.92), to have sexually transmitted infections (OR=6.29, 95% CI=2.26 to 17.51) and to lose a child within 5 years of birth (OR=3.52, 95% CI=1.07 to 11.60). Children born to adolescent mothers were less likely to have normal weight at birth (OR=0.34, CI=0.15 to 0.73) than those born to adult mothers. CONCLUSION: Adolescent motherhood was associated with negative maternal and child health indices. The findings can be used by public health professionals including physiotherapists in this role to inform effective primary healthcare practice and community health advocacy to improve maternal and child health indices among adolescent mothers in Maiduguri. Future studies are needed to confirm the evidence at the regional or national level including the rural population in Nigeria.

Estimation of stature from radiographic measurement of foot dimensions: Truncated foot length may be more reliable than full foot length.

Foot length has been shown to be a reliable dimension for estimation of stature. However, phalanges of the foot are very small bones and their length may not be proportional to person's stature. Thus, we hypothesized that foot length measured excluding the phalanges, the truncated foot length, may be more reliable in stature estimation than full foot length. This study, therefore, aimed at comparing the accuracy of the regression equations derived from the truncated foot length and the full foot length. The study recruited a sample of 32 young adults (16 males and 16 females) aged from 20 to 35 years. Lateral radiographs of the right feet were obtained for each subject in a bilateral standing position while maintaining equal weight on both feet. Standing height of the participants was measured with a stadiometer. Truncated foot length and full foot length were measured on the lateral radiographs of the foot. Independent t-test was used to check for mean differences in the dimensions between genders. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the equations for stature estimation. Intra and inter-observer reliability were calculated from four precision estimates: absolute technical error of measurement (aTEM), relative technical error of measurement (rTEM), coefficient of reliability (Rr) and coefficient of variation (Cv). All the dimensions measured were significantly larger in males than females. Linear regression equations were derived for estimation of stature using both the truncated foot length and full foot length. The regression equations derived from truncated foot length have larger correlation coefficient, coefficient of determination, adjusted coefficient of determination as well as smaller standard error of estimation than those derived from full foot length. All the precision estimates showed that the measurement errors are within acceptable limits. This study suggests that even if the full foot length is available, excluding the phalanges may give more accurate stature estimation.

Design of a randomised intervention study: the effect of dumbbell exercise therapy on physical activity and quality of life among breast cancer survivors in Malaysia.

BACKGROUND: Participation in physical activity has a positive impact on the overall health and quality of life, whereas physical inactivity is associated with a poor prognosis among breast cancer survivors. Despite the health-enhancing benefits of physical activity, the majority of Malaysian breast cancer survivors are not physically active. This paper presents the design of a randomised study to evaluate the feasibility and effect of exercise therapy intervention using light resistance dumbbell exercise to promote active lifestyle and improve the quality of life of breast cancer survivors in Malaysia. METHODS/DESIGN: This is an intervention study of a 12-week exercise therapy that will explore and compare the effects of light resistance and aerobic exercise on physical activity level and quality of life components in 102 female breast cancer survivors. Major eligibility criteria include histologically confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer stages I-III, 3-12 months post-diagnosis, and absence of any disorder contraindicating exercise. Participants will be stratified based on menopausal status (pre-menopause vs post-menopause) and then assigned randomly to one of three groups. Participants in group A will participate in a three-times weekly supervised resistance exercise using light resistance dumbbells; participants in group B will participate in a three-times weekly supervised aerobic exercise; while participants in group C (control group) will be given aerobic exercise after completion of the intervention. The primary end points include physical activity level and quality of life components. The secondary end points are body mass index, body composition, total caloric intake, and waist-to-hip ratio. DISCUSSION: Although there have been many studies of resistance exercise in breast cancer survivors, this is the first study using this specific mode of resistance. Findings will contribute data on the feasibility and effects of light resistance dumbbell exercises, and provide knowledge on the physical activity intervention programme that will maximally promote better overall health and well-being of survivors.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Low Back Pain Among Professional Drivers in Kano, Nigeria.

This study investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and impact of low back pain (LBP) among professional drivers in Nigeria. Two hundred male drivers aged 19-64 years were recruited in the study. Data regarding prevalence, individual risk factors, and impact of LBP were obtained. The prevalence rate of LBP was 73.5%, and LBP have affected the driving performance of up to 74% drivers. After adjustment for age, LBP prevalence was associated with driving for >15 hours/day (odds ratio [OR]; 95% confidence interval [CI]): (0.04; 0.01, 0.20), driving car (5.52; 1.55, 19.64), and driving bus (10.49; 2.63, 41.82). No association was found between LBP prevalence and years spent driving. The study found that high prevalence of LBP affected the performance of a substantial percentage of the participants.