Prevalence and risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders among pregnant women in Enugu Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy usually triggers a wide range of changes that result in a variety of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The scope and burden of these disorders in Nigeria are not known. AIM: The study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of pregnancy-related MSDs in Enugu. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at three tertiary hospitals in Enugu, Nigeria, was done using an observer-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. RESULTS: A total of 317 participants were studied. A majority of the participants (93.1%) had one or more MSDs. Low back pain (LBP) and muscle cramps were the two most common pregnancy-related MSDs with prevalence rates of 56.8 and 54.8%, respectively. Increasing gestational age (P = 0.001), previous pregnancies (P = 0.027), and occupation (P = 0.018) were associated with increased risk of MSDs. A majority of the MSDs were of mild and moderate severity and 10.4% of the participants had significant impairment of their daily activities. CONCLUSION: MSDs are common in pregnancy with LBP and muscle cramps as the most prevalent conditions. Increasing gestational age, multigravidity, and occupation increased the risk of MSDs among our cohorts. Preventive and therapeutic measures should be instituted when necessary to ensure optimal maternal health during pregnancy.

Ponseti clubfoot management method: Initial experience with 273 clubfeet treated in a clubfoot clinic of a Nigerian regional orthopedic hospital.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the initial experience and outcome of clubfoot treated using the Ponseti technique in a regional orthopedic hospital setting of a developing country. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of all the clubfoot patients who were treated at the clubfoot clinic of National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu from 1st of August 2013 to 31st January 2015. RESULT: There were 175 patients with 273 clubfeet. The male to female ratio was 1.2:1, and the age range was 1 week to 27 years with a median age of 11 months. One hundred and fifty-one patients (86.5%) had congenital clubfoot, whereas 24 (13.5%) had acquired clubfoot. The mean Pirani score of the patients at presentation was 4. The mean number of cast sessions needed for correction was 6.3. The majority of the feet (96.6%) were treated and correction achieved with Ponseti method alone, whereas 3.4% had other additional surgical procedures. Seventy-two (41.1%) patients afforded and used foot abduction brace as prescribed. Plaster sores in 12.5% of patients were the most common complication. At a mean follow-up period of 6 months, a relapse rate of 3.4% was observed. CONCLUSION: Ponseti clubfoot management technique alone is very effective in most cases of clubfoot in our setting. Late presentation of patients and foot abduction brace related challenges observed call for a policy response aimed at educating the public on the importance of early presentation and improving the use of foot abduction brace.

Auto tricycle injuries and the vulnerability of occupants and pedestrians in a developing Country: A multi-center study.

BACKGROUND: Auto tricycle is an emerging common means of public transport in Nigeria. This study aimed to determine the scope and type of collisions and injuries from auto tricycles crashes in Nigeria, and identify potential areas for interventions to facilitate injury prevention. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study of all the patients with auto tricycle injuries that visited Emergency rooms of three Nigerian tertiary hospitals from 1st February 2015 to 31st July 2016. RESULTS: There were 210 victims; auto tricycle - other vehicle collisions, lone auto tricycle collisions and auto tricycle- pedestrian collisions accounted for injuries in 67.2%, 19% and 13.8% of them respectively. Preponderance of collisions at nighttime (60%), and on intra-city roads (86.7%) was observed. The rate of severe injury was significantly higher on inter-city than intra-city roads (32.11% vs. 9.3%, P < 0.001), and in daytime than night time (16.7% vs. 6.0%, P < 0.043). The lower extremity (50%), head (38.6%) and upper extremity (30.4%) were the three top anatomical regions involved. The case fatality rate was 1.4%: head injury accounted for two-third of the mortality. CONCLUSION: In Nigeria, auto tricycle has come to stay as a means of public transport and vulnerable road users are not immune to auto tricycle related injuries and its associated morbidity and mortality. This calls for preventive strategies, based on the findings in this study, which may curb the menace of auto tricycle crash and resultant injuries.

Firearm injuries received in emergency room of a Nigerian Teaching Hospital: Aanalysis of pattern, morbidity, and mortality.

BACKGROUND: The morbidity and mortality associated with civilian firearm injury in developing countries is appreciable. The increasing incidence of gunshot casualties received in hospital emergency rooms is an emerging concern. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern and outcome of firearm injuries in a civilian setting of a developing country. MATERIALS AND METHOD: This was a retrospective analysis of data on the entire patients with firearm injury received in the emergency room of Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki from January 2005 to December 2014. RESULTS: There were 214 casualties, male-to-female ratio was 8:1, and mean age was 31.7 ± 0.80 years. The causes of injuries were armed robbery (59.9%), assault (33.6%), and accidental (6.5%). The incidence of armed robbery-related injury peaked in May and was higher in rainy season (P < 0.018), urban areas (P < 0.001) and at night-time (P < 0.033), whereas the incidence of assault-related injury peaked in April and was higher in dry season in rural areas and at day-time. Duration of hospital admission ranged from 1 to 184 days and mean was 16 days. Prolonged duration of hospital admission correlated with perforating wound (P < 0.001), high-velocity gunshot (P < 0.001), fractures (P < 0.001) and wound infection (P < 0.001). Preventable death rate was high, although mortality rate was 5.6%. A high mortality rate correlated with visceral injury (P < 0.001) and hypovolaemic shock (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The temporal distribution of firearm injury varies in location and aetiology of gunshot. This and the factors for relatively high morbidity and preventable death rate observed call for preventive strategies as well as improvement in pre-hospital and emergency room care.

Specialty choices: Patterns and determinants among medical undergraduates in Enugu Southeast Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Specialty choices of medical undergraduates are important in planning educational programs and human resources for health-care delivery. The aim of this study was to investigate the specialty preferences of medical undergraduates and determine the factors that influenced their specialty choices. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey carried out among final year medical undergraduates of University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu Nigeria. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection from the participants. Sociodemographic characteristics, decision to specialize, the timing of the decision, specialty choices and factors influencing these choices were evaluated. Chi-squared test and unpaired t-test were used to analyze the observations. RESULTS: Surgery and surgical specialties 79 (52%) were the most preferred specialties among the students. This was followed by obstetrics and gynecology 22 (14.5%) and public health 16 (10.5%). Personal interest in a specialty, personal abilities/competence, and career prospects were the most influential determinants of specialty choices. The career choices of male students were preferentially influenced by family/societal expectations (P = 0.03) and diversity of patients (P = 0.01). Low work hours significantly (P = 0.04) influenced the career choices of female students. CONCLUSION: Surgical specialties, obstetrics and gynecology, and public health were the most preferred specialties among our participants. The most important determinants of specialty choices were personal interest, personal abilities, and career prospects.

Firearm injuries received in emergency room of a Nigerian Teaching Hospital: Aanalysis of pattern, morbidity, and mortality

Background: The morbidity and mortality associated with civilian firearm injury in developing countries is appreciable. The increasing incidence of gunshot casualties received in hospital emergency rooms is an emerging concern. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern and outcome of firearm injuries in a civilian setting of a developing country. Materials and Method: This was a retrospective analysis of data on the entire patients with firearm injury received in the emergency room of Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki from January 2005 to December 2014. Results: There were 214 casualties, male-to-female ratio was 8:1, and mean age was 31.7 ± 0.80 years. The causes of injuries were armed robbery (59.9%), assault (33.6%), and accidental (6.5%). The incidence of armed robbery­related injury peaked in May and was higher in rainy season (P < 0.018), urban areas (P < 0.001) and at night-time (P < 0.033), whereas the incidence of assault-related injury peaked in April and was higher in dry season in rural areas and at day-time. Duration of hospital admission ranged from 1 to 184 days and mean was 16 days. Prolonged duration of hospital admission correlated with perforating wound (P < 0.001), high-velocity gunshot (P < 0.001), fractures (P < 0.001) and wound infection (P < 0.001). Preventable death rate was high, although mortality rate was 5.6%. A high mortality rate correlated with visceral injury (P < 0.001) and hypovolaemic shock (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The temporal distribution of firearm injury varies in location and aetiology of gunshot. This and the factors for relatively high morbidity and preventable death rate observed call for preventive strategies as well as improvement in pre-hospital and emergency room care

Low back pain as seen in orthopedic clinics of a Nigerian Teaching Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Low back pain is not a specific disease though a common health concern worldwide. There is regional variation in its etiology and patterns of presentation. In West African sub-region, there are very limited data on this important aspect of low back pain. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the etiology and pattern of presentation of low back pain among patients seen in our orthopedic outpatient clinics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective review of database of all new patients with low back pain seen at the orthopedics clinics of Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki between 2003 and 2013. RESULTS: There were 2914 new patients seen in the orthopedic clinics -291 (10%) of them presented with low back pain. The female to male ratio was 1:1.04 and the mean age was 45.8 ± 1.67 years. The mechanical low back pain was involved in 82.1% of the patients, and the incidence was significantly higher in females than males (53.1% vs. 46.9%, P < 0.003). The males were significantly more afflicted than females by pain from spinal infections (58.3% vs. 41.7%) and tumors (92.3% vs. 7.7% P <0.003). Low back pain associated with radiculopathy was observed in 75 (25.7%) patients and the incidence was significantly higher in the married than the singles (30.2% vs. 13.9%, P < 0.005). Lifting of heavy object was the most common predisposing factor of low back pain. Hypertension and peptic ulcer disease were two top medical co-morbidities while osteoarthritis of hip and knee was the most common associated musculoskeletal disorders. CONCLUSION: Low back pain of mechanical origin (recurrent and chronic in a significant proportion of patients) is predominant in our environment. This pattern calls for prevention as well as the early and appropriate care of the patient with low back pain.

Outcome of road traffic injuries received in the emergency room of a teaching hospital, Southeast Nigeria.

Road traffic injuries (RTI) are a rapidly growing public health problem in developing countries. This study was aimed at assessing the early outcome of RTIs received in our hospital emergency room. Understanding this will help to achieve optimum injury outcome. A prospective study was conducted on all patients presenting with RTIs to the emergency room of the Ebonyi University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, from 1 March 2007 to 29 February 2008. Out of 363 patients: 72.45% were treated in the emergency unit and discharged; 12.7% left against medical advice; 10.9% were admitted to the ward; and 4.7% died. Self-discharge against medical advice was significantly related to the type of injury (78.3% had fracture/dislocation) and gender (P = 0.001). The patronage of traditional bone setters, because of cultural belief that they have supernatural ability to treat fractures, was the major reason given by those who left against medical advice. The morbidity and mortality rate was significantly related to the road type (P = 0.005 - a higher rate was observed for RTIs received on intercity roads than intracity ones) and the type of crash (P = 0.03 - more than half from head on collisions). Although the mortality rate was within the expected range, the preventable death rate was high, and the majority of deaths occurred within the 'golden hour' . Improvement in pre-hospital and emergency room care of patients with RTIs, as well as public awareness of the availability and efficacy of orthodox orthopaedic trauma care, are needed in the developing countries.

Machete injuries as seen in a Nigerian teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND: The morbidity and mortality of machete-related injuries is rather appreciable in Nigeria although it is under-reported. Machetes are multipurpose tools in the farm, home and construction sites. Machetes may also be used as a close-range weapon. In Nigeria, there is no legislation guiding their Acquisition, so they are readily available in many homes. Injuries from machetes could be as detrimental as fatal or non-fatal with long-term morbidity. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study to assess the pattern and outcome of patients presenting with machete injuries in Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, from January 2003 to December 2007. RESULTS: Of 76 patients, 74 met the criteria for the study. The male:female ratio was 10:1. The youth were commonly affected and the average age was 27.86 years. Assaults accounted for 96% of cases whilst accidental injuries accounted for 4% of cases. Early presentation, multiple machete wounds and involvement of head and upper extremities were common. Peripheral nerve palsy was the most common complication and haemorrhagic shock the most common cause of death. Sixty-one patients (87.14%) had complete recovery, and six patients (8.51%) recovered with morbidity. Death occurred in three patients (4.29%). CONCLUSIONS: Management of machete injuries in a developing nation can be quite challenging. Assault with homicidal intention was the major aetiological factor in our own environment and may be a very important and under-recognised aspect of the injuries. Appropriate injury-prevention mechanisms and other aspects of trauma care are recommended.