Improving access to pediatric hydrocephalus care for all: the role of maternal health literacy and socioeconomic status.

OBJECTIVE: Limited research has addressed the barriers impeding access to surgical care for pediatric patients with hydrocephalus. To identify priorities for enhancing access to pediatric hydrocephalus surgical care and to address healthcare disparities, it is essential to understand the level of access to care and the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) and maternal health literacy. In this study, the authors aimed to assess the level of access to surgical care; determine the frequency of more than a 2-week delay in seeking, reaching, and receiving care; and investigate the influence of parental SES and maternal health literacy on these delays. METHODS: This observational prospective cohort study involved data collection from a sample of 100 pediatric patients aged ≤ 5 years with hydrocephalus and their mothers, including information on family SES (education, occupational, and economic status). Maternal health literacy was assessed using the Brief Health Literacy Screen (BHLS) questionnaire. The Three Delays framework from the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery, categorizing delays in seeking care, reaching care, and definitive care, provided a structured approach for analyzing access delays. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Among the pediatric patients, there was a male-to-female ratio of 1.7:1, with a median age of 1.5 months. None of the patients had insurance coverage that included surgical treatment. A significantly low number of patients accessed care within 2 weeks for seeking care duration (34%), reaching care duration (15%), and definitive care duration (1%). The median time to definitive surgical treatment for the entire study population was 14 weeks (upper SES: median 6.3 weeks, middle SES: median 9.8 weeks, lower SES: median 16.7 weeks). Through Cox proportional hazards regression, a hazard ratio of 0.046 (95% CI 0.010-0.210) was obtained. Multiple linear regression analysis identified BHLS Brief D (ß = -0.335, p = 0.001) and SES (ß = 0.389, p < 0.001) as predictor variables for delays in seeking care and definitive care, respectively. SES (ß = 0.446, p < 0.001) and Evans index (ß = 0.233, p = 0.010) were predictor variables for delays in reaching care. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal health literacy and SES were identified as factors associated with delays in accessing neurosurgical care for pediatric patients with hydrocephalus. To reduce disparities in pediatric hydrocephalus care, it is essential to implement strategies that promote education, improve healthcare infrastructure, and provide support to families encountering challenges related to low SES and limited maternal health literacy.

Naturally Occurring Radionuclides in Tiles Available in Ibadan, Nigeria, and the Associated Radiological Hazards.

Introduction: All building materials of natural origin contain some amounts of primordial radionuclides, 40K, 232Th, and 238U, as well as other radionuclides in the decay series of 232Th and 238U. Purpose: The use of tiles to beautify walls and floors in dwellings has become popular worldwide and in Nigeria in particular. However, not much has been done in assessing the impact of the use of floor and wall tiles on the radiation exposure of dwellers. In this study, radioisotopes of natural origin (226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) in selected ceramic tiles often used in Ibadan Southwest Nigeria were estimated and the associated radiological parameters evaluated. Methodology: Forty-five samples of different types of floor and wall tiles were obtained from local markets within the study area. Each of the 45 samples was pulverized and sealed in an airtight sample container for 4 weeks before analysis using a sodium iodide-based gamma-ray spectrometer. Results: The average values of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K obtained were 44.28 ± 0.56, 84.71 ± 0.60, and 830.44 ± 0.63 Bqkg-1, respectively, which shows that they are greater than the corresponding estimated worldwide average concentration. Again, the estimated average values obtained for the radiological hazard parameters for equivalent activity due to radium and representative gamma-ray level index were found to be lower than the world averages. Similarly, the absorbed dose rates due to gamma-ray emission were found to be higher than the world common values. Conclusion: This study indicates that the use of these tiles will not be posing potential radiological risk if used in dwellings. However, construction works that requires the use of these tiles must be designed in such a way that the emission of dangerous radiation will not be a threat to the occupants.

Spontaneous Surgical Intracranial Haemorrhages Associated with SARS-Cov-2 Infection: Case Report.

Spontaneous surgical acute and chronic intracranial haemorrhage in patients with SARS-Cov-2 infection is a theoretical possibility. We report two cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection that was associated with spontaneous surgical acute and chronic intracranial haemorrhage. The two patients had successful surgical intervention. Surgical haemorrhages should be considered in patients with SARS-COV-2 infection especially if there is an associated altered sensorium.

An unexpected diagnosis of malignant supratentorial intraparenchymal cystic meningioma mimicking high-grade glioma: case report and literature review.

Meningiomas are generally dura-based extra axial tumours without cystic components, whereas high-grade gliomas are intra-axial with or without cystic component. This case describes an adult female who presented with clinical and radiological features suggestive of a high-grade astrocytoma; however, histology diagnosis was papillary meningioma (World Health Organization Grade III). A 58-year-old female presented with a 4-month history of recurrent generalized tonic-clonic seizures and a 1-week history of altered sensorium. Her Glasgow Coma Scale Score was 10. Magnetic resonance image revealed a large intra-axial heterogeneous solid mass with multiple cystic areas in the right parietal lobe. She subsequently had craniotomy and tumour excision and the histologic diagnosis was papillary meningioma (WHO Grade III). Rarely, meningioma can present as an intra-axial tumour and may mimic other lesions like high-grade astrocytoma.

Epidemiology of Untreated Psychoses in 3 Diverse Settings in the Global South: The International Research Program on Psychotic Disorders in Diverse Settings (INTREPID II).

Importance: Less than 10% of research on psychotic disorders has been conducted in settings in the Global South, which refers broadly to the regions of Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. There is a lack of basic epidemiological data on the distribution of and risks for psychoses that can inform the development of services in many parts of the world. Objective: To compare demographic and clinical profiles of cohorts of cases and rates of untreated psychoses (proxy for incidence) across and within 3 economically and socially diverse settings in the Global South. Two hypotheses were tested: (1) demographic and clinical profiles of cases with an untreated psychotic disorder vary across setting and (2) rates of untreated psychotic disorders vary across and within setting by clinical and demographic group. Design, Setting, and Participants: The International Research Program on Psychotic Disorders in Diverse Settings (INTREPID II) comprises incidence, case-control, and cohort studies of untreated psychoses in catchment areas in 3 countries in the Global South: Kancheepuram District, India; Ibadan, Nigeria; and northern Trinidad. Participants were individuals with an untreated psychotic disorder. This incidence study was conducted from May 1, 2018, to July 31, 2020. In each setting, comprehensive systems were implemented to identify and assess all individuals with an untreated psychosis during a 2-year period. Data were analyzed from January 1 to May 1, 2022. Main Outcomes and Measures: The presence of an untreated psychotic disorder, assessed using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry, which incorporate the Present State Examination. Results: Identified were a total of 1038 cases, including 64 through leakage studies (Kancheepuram: 268; median [IQR] age, 42 [33-50] years; 154 women [57.5%]; 114 men [42.5%]; Ibadan: 196; median [IQR] age, 34 [26-41] years; 93 women [47.4%]; 103 men [52.6%]; Trinidad: 574; median [IQR] age, 30 [23-40] years; 235 women [40.9%]; 339 men [59.1%]). Marked variations were found across and within settings in the sex, age, and clinical profiles of cases (eg, lower percentage of men, older age at onset, longer duration of psychosis, and lower percentage of affective psychosis in Kancheepuram compared with Ibadan and Trinidad) and in rates of untreated psychosis. Age- and sex-standardized rates of untreated psychoses were approximately 3 times higher in Trinidad (59.1/100 000 person-years; 95% CI, 54.2-64.0) compared with Kancheepuram (20.7/100 000 person-years; 95% CI, 18.2-23.2) and Ibadan (14.4/100 000 person-years; 95% CI, 12.3-16.5). In Trinidad, rates were approximately 2 times higher in the African Trinidadian population (85.4/100 000 person-years; 95% CI, 76.0-94.9) compared with the Indian Trinidadian (43.9/100 000 person-years; 95% CI, 35.7-52.2) and mixed populations (50.7/100 000 person-years; 95% CI, 42.0-59.5). Conclusions and Relevance: This analysis adds to research that suggests that core aspects of psychosis vary by historic, economic, and social context, with far-reaching implications for understanding and treatment of psychoses globally.

The Prevalence and Pattern of Anaemia in Type 2 Diabetics in Ogbomosho, An Urban Community in Southwestern Nigeria.

Anaemia is a frequent finding in type 2 diabetes, but it is typically seen with established chronic kidney disease and renal insufficiency. Cases, where anaemia predates renal insufficiency, are associated with a worse prognosis for the type 2 diabetes patient and an increased susceptibility to complications. This study aims to determine the prevalence and type of anaemia in persons living with type 2 diabetes without established chronic kidney disease in our environment. The study was a hospital-based cross-sectional study that involved 141 people with known type 2 diabetes as the study group and 140 healthy persons as controls. The study population and the controls were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered semistructured questionnaire at the Endocrinology clinic, Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho. The data obtained were analyzed using the IBM SPSS version 23.0 (p value ≤0.05 was considered significant). The biochemical (fasting lipids, HBA1C, FBG, serum albumin, creatinine, urea, uric acid, and insulin) and haematological (FBC and red cell indices; PVC, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and RCDW) parameters of the respondents were analyzed using standard methods. The study showed a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of anaemia among subjects, 69.2% as compared to 30.8% of the control group. Normochromic normocytic anaemia was predominant among the subjects, whereas microcytic hypochromic anaemia was the predominant type in the controls. There was no statistically significant difference between MCV and MCHC of both subjects and controls. There was a positive correlation between the incidence of anaemia and the duration of diabetes among the subjects. More people with type 2 diabetes are now living longer, and the addition of haematological parameters should be part of their baseline investigations to aid in the early detection of complications.

A tropical tertiary neurosurgical centre response to COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on neurosurgical practices.

Background: COVID-19 pandemic may decrease the quantum of care for patients with neurosurgical conditions. Objectives: To determine outpatient clinic (OPC) patient load, neurosurgical procedures volume and disease spectrum following the institution of a new care protocol during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and compare with previous practice data in our institution. Methods: A monocentric retrospective analysis of all patients requiring neurosurgical care over a 2-year period. Results: There was a 42.4% reduction in OPC attendance and 41.8% reduction in surgical procedures in 2020 compared to 2019. There was >60 percent reduction in the volume of surgery that was done at the onset and peak of the pandemic but this has normalized in November 2020 despite the resurgence of COVID-19, after the institution of a new care protocol. Neurotrauma procedures (29.6%) were the most common neurosurgical operation in 2020 while congenital malformation surgery (37.3%) was the most common procedure performed in 2019. Conclusions: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic initially led to significant decrease in quantum and spectra of patients who presented at the OPC and for neurosurgical procedures. Instituted local protocol and Teleclinics, if added to clinical care armamentarium, may help to improve on the low patient attendance during pandemics.

Impact of inflammatory cell ratio, biomarkers, activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time on chronic subdural haematoma severity and outcome.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic subdural haematoma (CSH) has multifactorial mechanisms involved in its development and progression. Identifying readily available inflammatory and coagulation indices that can predict the prognosis of CSH will help in clinical care, prognosis, generating objective criteria for assessing efficacy of treatment strategies and comparisons of treatment efficacy between clinical studies. We conducted a study in which we evaluated the impact value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), inflammatory biomarkers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR) at presentation on CSH severity and outcome using Glasgow outcome scale (GOS), Markwalder grading scale (MGS) and Lagos brain disability examination scale (LABDES). METHODS: We prospectively studied patients in a single healthcare system with clinical and radiological features of chronic subdural haematoma. Only patients who were managed surgically were recruited. The primary outcome was predictors of severe form CSH (using admission Glasgow coma scale score, MGS grade, inflammatory cells and biomarkers, APTT, PT, and INR) and outcome (using GOS, MGS and LABDES grades 3 months) with secondary outcome being mortality rate, 3 months following surgery. Good outcome was defined as GOS score > 3, LABDES score ≥ 40 at three months and MGS score < 2. Differences in categorical and continuous variables between groups were compared using Fisher's exact test or Chi-square test (χ2) analysis, one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test (in case of non-normal distribution). RESULTS: We included 61 patients with a male-to-female ratio of 2.6:1 and mean age of 57.5 ± 13.3 years (median 58 years; 27-83 years). The pre-op MGS grade was significantly associated with the LABDES (p = 0.034), GOS (p = 0.011) and post-op MGS (p = 0.007) grade. All the patients that died had elevated APTT and PT with low PLR. A low admission PLR was significantly associated with a poor outcome using the GOS (p = 0.001), MGS (p = 0.011) and LABDES grade (p = 0.006) (Table 3). A high APTT was also significantly associated with a worse outcome using GOS (p = 0.007), MGS (p = 0.007) and LABDES grade (p = 0.003). There were three (4.9%) deaths with post-mortem diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, chronic renal failure and irreversible craniocaudal herniation syndrome. All the patients that died had elevated APTT and PT with low PLR. CONCLUSION: Patients' admission APTT, PT, INR and PLR are good predictors of outcome using the GOS. A high admission INR is also associated with a worse outcome using MGS and LABDES grade.

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among children attending the outpatient clinic of a tertiary health centre in Southwest Nigeria.

Introduction: hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global health disease. One-third of the world´s population is reportedly infected with the virus. Infections in children are mostly perinatal and therefore acquired early in life, with a propensity to evolve into chronic diseases and their attendant life-threatening complications. Early diagnosis can, however, improve outcomes in this group of children. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of HBV among children attending the outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital in Southwest Nigeria. Methods: we recruited a total of one hundred and ninety-eight children aged 6 months to 18 years from the children´s outpatient clinic of a tertiary health centre, using the systematic sampling technique. HBsAg was tested using the HBsAg test kit (PRO-med®, China), and the anti-HBs antibody was tested using the ELISA method. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26. Results: of the 198 children that were screened, 2 (1.0%) were positive. Of these, one (50.0%) had a Hepatitis B positive mother and was HBeAg positive. Two-thirds of the children had received the hepatitis B vaccine, as evidenced by caregivers´ recall, or sighting of the immunization record. There was no statistically significant relationship between the hepatitis B status of the children and the sociodemographic parameters. Conclusion: the study supports the fact that paediatric HBV infections are transmitted from mother to child. Though the prevalence of HBsAg in the study population was lower than the national average for the country, routine immunization program should be strengthened for further control of HBV. Age and gender were not significantly associated with HBV infection in this study.

Outcome of Cerebral Aneurysm Clipping in Nigeria: A Single-Centre Experience.

Background: Ruptured cerebral artery aneurysms (RCAA) are devastating diseases with high morbidity and mortality rates if not promptly managed. In Nigeria, access to timely neurosurgical services remains a challenge and aneurysm coiling is still not possible in virtually all centres in Nigeria. The aim of this study is to report on our 9 years' experience with clipping of cerebral aneurysm and on the attendant clinical outcomes. Methodology: A retrospective analysis of all consecutive operated RCAA between March 2012 and June 2021 was conducted. Patients' demographic parameters, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grade, Hunt and Hess (HH) grade, aneurysm location, timing of surgery and outcome were analysed. Outcome was measured using Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score. Results: A total 29 were included in the study. The most common age group affected was between 50-59 years. RCAA were mainly in the region of the middle cerebral artery and posterior communicating artery (PComA) territories. All the patients presented after 24 hours of the ictus. Two (6.9%) patients had multiple aneurysms. Early clipping (<72hours after presentation) was possible in 8 (27.6%) patients. At least one episode of a rebleed occurred in 19 (65.5%) patients prior to surgery. Mortality rate was 17.2%. None of the patients with PComA aneurysm died. The patients' pre-operative WFNS and HH grades were significantly associated with GOS. Conclusion: Modifiable factors like under diagnoses, delayed referral, cultural belief and financial challenges may account for the low number of patients presenting for neurosurgical care. The possibility of a sizeable number of patients dying due to these factors is a strong possibility for the low number of patients presenting for neurosurgical care.

A tropical tertiary neurosurgical center response to COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on neurosurgical practices

Background: COVID-19 pandemic may decrease the quantum of care for patients with neurosurgical conditions. Objectives: To determine outpatient clinic (OPC) patient load, neurosurgical procedures volume and disease spectrum following the institution of a new care protocol during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and compare with previous practice data in our institution. Methods: A monocentric retrospective analysis of all patients requiring neurosurgical care over a 2-year period. Results: There was a 42.4% reduction in OPC attendance and 41.8% reduction in surgical procedures in 2020 compared to 2019. There was >60 percent reduction in the volume of surgery that was done at the onset and peak of the pandemic, but this has normalized in November 2020 despite the resurgence of COVID-19, after the institution of a new care protocol. Neurotrauma procedures (29.6%) were the most common neurosurgical operation in 2020 while congenital malformation surgery (37.3%) was the most common procedure performed in 2019. Conclusions: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic initially led to significant decrease in quantum and spectra of patients who presented at the OPC and for neurosurgical procedures. Instituted local protocol and Teleclinics, if added to clinical care armamentarium, may help to improve on the low patient attendance during pandemics

Multiple Skipped Craniospinal Arteriovenous Malformations Complicated with Hydrocephalus and Syringomyelia.

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) can occur within the intracranial or spinal region. When AVMs occur within the central nervous system, they are usually solitary. Central nervous system AVMs are known to be more common within the intracranial compartment when compared with the spinal region. AVMs within the intracranial compartment can be complicated with hydrocephalus, whereas AVM within the spinal cord may be associated with syringomyelia, just like a posterior fossa AVM. The co-existence of cranial and spinal AVMs has only been reported in very few cases in the literature. We report a case of multiple and skipped cerebral and juvenile spinal AVM associated with hydrocephalus and cervicothoracic syringomyelia in a 26-year-old female.

Adverse effects of noise stress on glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Noise pollution remains a pervasive health hazard that people encounter especially in large commercial metropolis and has been implicated in many adverse non-auditory health conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, vascular (endothelial) dysfunction and metabolic disorders. There is a growing body of evidence showing that chronic noise exposure is associated with an increased risk of hypercholesterol, adiposity and development of type 2 diabetes. The present study investigated the effect of noise stress on parameters of glucose homeostasis in male rats and possible recovery after noise cessation. Twenty-four (24) adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were designated into four groups (n = 6 per group). All rats except the control group were exposed to 95dB noise using a noise generator for 28 consecutive days. A group of rats was investigated immediately after 28 days of noise exposure (NE28), while others were left to recover from noise stress for 7 days (NER7) or 14 days (NER14). OGTT and ITT were performed using standard methods. Plasma levels of triglyceride (TRIG), total cholesterol (CHOL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were determined. Serum level of insulin, corticosterone (CORT) and corticosterone-releasing-factor (CRF) were determined using ELISA. Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and glycogen content in liver as well as gastrocnemius muscle were also determined. Although glucose tolerance remained unchanged in the noise-exposed groups, insulin sensitivity was however significantly reduced compared with control. There was significant increase (P < 0.05) in the level of CHOL, LDL and HDL. Noise also increased (P < 0.05) both insulin and CORT levels; and elicited a higher HOMA-IR index in NE28 rats. Hepatic and myocytic glycogen content were lower (P < 0.05) in NE28 rats relative to control. The reported changes above were reversed following a 14-day noise withdrawal period. Noise-induced insulin resistance may result from dysregulation of the stress axis and appears to be reversible with noise cessation.

Road Traffic Injury in Lagos, Nigeria: Assessing Prehospital Care.

Introduction Injuries are the third most important cause of overall deaths globally with one-quarter resulting from road traffic crashes. Majority of these deaths occur before arrival in the hospital and can be reduced with prompt and efficient prehospital care. The aim of this study was to highlight the burden of road traffic injury (RTI) in Lagos, Nigeria and assess the effectiveness of prehospital care, especially the role of Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) in providing initial care and transportation of the injured to the hospital. METHODS: A three-year, retrospective review of road traffic injured patients seen at the Surgical Emergency Room (SER) of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Nigeria, from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2014 was conducted. Parameters extracted from the Institution Trauma Registry included bio-data, date and time of injury, date and time of arrival in SER, host status, type of vehicle involved, and region(s) injured. Information on how patients came to the hospital and outcome in SER also were recorded. Results were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS; IBM Corporation; Armonk, New York USA) version 16. RESULTS: A total of 23,537 patients were seen during the study period. Among them, 16,024 (68.1%) had trauma. Road traffic crashes were responsible in 5,629 (35.0%) of trauma cases. Passengers constituted 42.0% of the injured, followed by pedestrians (34.0%). Four wheelers were the most frequent vehicle type involved (54.0%), followed by motor cycles (30.0%). Regions mainly affected were head and neck (40.0%) and lower limb (29.0%). Less than one-quarter (24.0%) presented to the emergency room within an hour, while one-third arrived between one and six hours following injury. Relatives brought 55.4%, followed by bystanders (21.4%). Only 2.3% had formal prehospital care and were brought to the hospital by LASAMBUS. They also had significantly shorter arrival time. One hundred and nine patients (1.9%) died in the emergency room while 235 bodies were brought in dead. CONCLUSION: Less than three percent among the victims of road crashes had formal prehospital care and shorter hospital arrival time. Current facilities for emergency prehospital care in Lagos are inadequate and require improvement. Training lay first-responders, who bring the majority of the injured to hospital, in basic first-aid may improve prehospital care in Lagos. Ibrahim NA , Ajani AWO , Mustafa IA , Balogun RA , Oludara MA , Idowu OE , Solagberu BA . Road traffic injury in Lagos, Nigeria: assessing prehospital care. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(4):424-430.

Pituitary gland trauma in fatal nonsurgical closed traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic injury to pituitary gland can lead to significant endocrine dysfunctions. The aim of this study is to define the frequency of pituitary gland injury in patients with fatal nonsurgical closed traumatic brain injury (TBI), and to correlate if any, the type of craniocerebral injury associated with the pituitary gland injury. METHODS: The study is a prospective autopsy review of 30 adult patients with fatal closed TBI. Patients who had any form of neurosurgical intervention were excluded from the study. The harvested pituitary glands were assessed morphologically and histologically with haematoxylin-eosin stains. RESULTS: There were 25 males and five females (median age: 35 years). Fatal closed TBI was associated with at least pituitary stalk rupture or pituitary gland haemorrhage in 13 patients (43.3%). There was significant relationship between subdural haemorrhage (SH) and either pituitary gland haemorrhage or pituitary stalk rupture. Odds ratio (OR) of a patient with SH having accompanying glandular pituitary haemorrhage was 21 while the OR of a patient with SH having pituitary stalk rupture was 12. CONCLUSION: Pituitary gland haemorrhage and stalk rupture frequency are fairly common in fatal closed TBI that do not require surgical intervention. Injury to both structures probably plays substantial roles in closed TBI outcome. We suggest routine assessment of pituitary gland function test in patients with closed TBI associated with SH.

Relationship between demography, etiology, level of consciousness, and outcome of surgical intracranial suppurations of bacterial origin in a tropical tertiary center.

INTRODUCTION: Intracranial suppurations (ICS) of bacterial origin are associated with significant mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to review demography, etiology, level of consciousness, and outcome of surgical ICS in a tropical tertiary hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients admitted to the neurosurgical unit within the study period of 7 years that had a surgical intervention for their ICS were prospectively included in the study. In accordance with the unit protocol, all patients in whom there was clinical suspicion of ICS had a preoperative computed tomography scan and/or magnetic resonance imaging done. The following data among others were documented and recorded electronically: demography, clinical and radiological diagnosis, etiology of ICS, admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, type of neurosurgical intervention, mode of anesthesia, and outcome. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were included in the study. There were 33 males with a male-to-female ratio of 2.1:1. All patients presented at least a week after the use of antibiotics. The most common type of ICS was cerebral abscess (33 patients, 67.3%). There was no statistical significant association between outcome and age group (P = 0.630), gender (P = 0.999), diagnosis (P = 0.464), etiology of ICS (P = 0.169), solitary or multiplicity of ICS (P = 0.485), or type of offending organism (P = 0.278). CONCLUSIONS: ICS usually follows otorhinological infections in our center. The surgical outcome is dependent on the admission GCS score.

Giant Solitary Anterior Cervical Canal Neurofibroma: Case Report and Surgical Technique.

Giant solitary anterior cervical canal neurofibroma (GSACCN) is rarely reported in the literature. When the large lesion is ventrally located to the spinal cord, an anterolateral approach may not be ideal due to various technical challenges. In this report, we describe a case of intradural extramedullary GSACCN located at the cervical region extending from the axis to the sixth cervical vertebrae. Here we also describe a posterior technique successfully used to resect the tumour. Therefore, the posterior approach by En bloc decompressive laminectomy and laminoplasty might be used to adequately treat the lesion.

Surgical management of acromegaly in a resource-challenged environment.

The management of acromegaly caused by an uncommon growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma can be challenging in low-resource African subregion. We conducted a study over a 2-year period to describe the results and challenges following surgical treatment of this rare condition in our centre. The clinical outcome was defined as successful based on the surgeon's intraoperative observation, postoperative neuroimaging findings and neuroendocrinological results. A total of three patients (two males and one female) aged 19-32 years were included. Visual impairment was the main presenting symptom in all the three patients. The postoperative period was uneventful. Acromegaly is an uncommon disorder in our region. Surgery is the treatment of choice in low-resource practice.

Pedestrian injuries in the most densely populated city in Nigeria-an epidemic calling for control.

OBJECTIVES: Since the first pedestrian road fatality of 1896, pedestrians still remain vulnerable, with fatalities in Africa being 55% of global statistics. Many previous reports from Nigeria have emphasized passengers and drivers over pedestrians; this study was done in the most densely populated Nigerian city with no previous publication exclusively dedicated to pedestrians-the megacity has been projected by the World Bank to be the third largest in the world by 2015 (after Tokyo and Mumbai), so the study results would aid injury control and reduce morbidity and mortality. METHODS: This is a one-year prospective study on pedestrians attending the surgical emergency room of the busiest referral hospital in Lagos, Nigeria, detailing age, sex, occupation, regions injured, injury mechanism, incident vehicles, highway collisions, and immediate outcomes. RESULTS: Some 702 pedestrians were seen, including 494 (70%) males with overall peak incidence in the third decade, but the peak incidence among females is lower and in the first decade. Common injuries sustained were to the head (40%), lower limbs (35%), upper limbs (9%), multiple regions (6%), pelvis (3%), and others (7%). Gender differences also were noted-the predominant injury location in males was the head, followed by lower limbs; the opposite was true for females, though both regional injuries were fewer in females than in males. Students were 20% of the entire pedestrians, with nearly half of them injured by a motorcycle. The mechanism of injury included crossing a highway (63%), walking along the pavement (17%), standing by a bus stop (12%), at a shop/house (5%), and others (3%). However, 76% injuries occurred on highways, 22% on inner city roads, and 2% elsewhere. Vehicles included motorcycles (33%), cars (27%), buses (22%), trucks (6%), tricycles (2.4%), and other (9%). Overall fatality was 10% and about half were due to being knocked down by buses and cars. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a high incidence and significant underreporting of pedestrian injuries. A reduction in morbidity and mortality is possible (from head and lower limb injuries) by traffic calming techniques in crossing the highway, especially injuries due to being struck by motorcycles, cars, and buses.

Demography, types, outcome and relationship of surgically treated intracranial suppuration complicating chronic suppurative otitis media and bacterial rhinosinusitis.

INTRODUCTION: Surgically treated intracranial suppurations (ICS) are uncommon, life-threatening neurosurgical emergencies. They can result from complication of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) and bacterial rhinosinusitis (BRS). The objective of this study was to know the frequency of BRS and CSOM and relate it to its rare complication of surgically treated ICS while also describing the demography, type and outcome of ICS that resulted from BRS and CSOM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients that presented to the Otorhinolaryngological department and Neurosurgical unit of the same institution with clinical and radiological features of CSOM, BRS, and ICS were prospectively studied over a 5-year period. Patients were followed up for a minimum of 3 months. RESULTS: Two thousand, two hundred and seventy-nine patients presented during the 5-year study period. Of all these patients, 1511 had CSOM (66.3%) and 768 (33.7%) presented with features of BRS. Eleven (0.73%) had ICS complicating their CSOM while 8 (1.04%) cases of surgically treated ICS followed BRS. Bacterial rhinosinusitis was not more likely to lead to ICS (P = 0.4348). The Odds ratio (OR) of a child ≤ 18 years of age with CSOM developing ICS was 5.24 (95% Confidence interval 1.13-24.34; P = 0.0345), while it was 7.60 (95% Confidence interval 1.52-37.97; P = 0.0134) for children with BRS. CONCLUSIONS: The most common type of ICS complicating CSOM and BRS was brain abscess and subdural empyema, respectively. Children are more prone to develop surgical ICS following CSOM and BRS. The proportion of males that had ICS was higher in both CSOM and BRS patients. Optimal outcome is achieved in patients that presented with GCS of 13 and above.