Investigation of the possible relationship between the occurrences of atmospheric gravity waves and equatorial Spread-F.

Equatorial Spread F (ESF), is a manifestation linked to Atmospheric Gravity Waves (AGW). There have not been many studies to ascertain the extensive relationship between the occurrence of AGW and the occurrence of ESF. To evaluate the extent of their relationship, this study used data obtained with the aid of a satellite-borne Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) and ionograms obtained using a Digisonde Portable Sounder (DPS-4) located at Jicamarca (geog. Lat. 11.950 ᵒS, long. 76.867 ᵒW and geomagnetic Lat. 2.27 ᵒS, Long. 4.15 ᵒW; Dip 2 ᵒN) during the year 2016. The results also suggest that whenever AGW, under the control of tidal winds, propagates into F-region heights such that both AGW and tidal wind structures act together, it could have great potential at influencing plasma instability growth rate. The result further shows that when AGW has a long enough wavelength to reach the F-region, it tends to influence the factors responsible for the occurrence of the Mixed Spread-F (MSF) type of ESF. MSF is observed to be predominant in occurrence whenever AGW and ESF occur simultaneously compared to the other two types of ESF. The coefficient of correlation between AGW and MSF ranged between 0.1 and 0.5, while for Range Spread-F and Frequency Spread-F, it ranged between ± 0.2. These levels of correlations show that AGW does not directly trigger ESF. The range of the correlation coefficient between AGW and MSF however tends to support the suggestion that AGW occurrence is capable of influencing the factors responsible for a type of ESF occurrence rather than triggering ESF occurrence altogether.

Storm time IRI-Plas model forecast for an African equatorial station.

The limitation of ionospheric models in describing short-term ionospheric events has led to the development of data assimilative models e.g. the International Reference Ionosphere extended to Plasmasphere (IRI-Plas) model. This paper compares the IRI-Plas derived total electron content (TEC), the peak height (hmF2) and critical frequency (foF2) of the F2-layer with those obtained from Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver's and Digisonde Precision Sounder (DPS-4) measurements over Ilorin (Geog. Lat. 8.50oN; Long. 4.50oE, dip: - 7.9o) during geomagnetic storm days. The model estimation was done by assimilation of Ionosonde foF2 and TEC derived from GPS (GPS-TEC) and Global Ionospheric Map (GIM-TEC) into the model code. In order to study the effect of data assimilation on the model's representation, the "no input" option of the model was used as reference. The result shows that with the exception of the foF2 assimilation mode, all the options generally reproduced TEC quite well for all the storm days considered. Overall, the model adjusted with GPS-TEC gives the best prediction of TEC as it reduced the prediction error of TEC by a multiple of up to three compared to using the GIM-TEC. Also, all the options failed to reproduce the storm induced prominent features in the storm-time features of foF2 and hmF2. In other word, assimilation with the TEC does not generally improve the storm-time predictions of foF2 and hmF2 at the station. Consequently, for storm-time estimation of the F2-layer peak parameters, the 'no input' representation of the model is more valid at this station.

Clinical outcomes after open locked intramedullary nailing of closed femoral shaft fractures for adult patients in a Nigerian Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Femoral shaft fractures are common injuries in adults. Closed locked intramedullary nailing is the recommended treatment for femoral shaft fractures due to its high union rate. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine the outcome of management of closed femoral shaft fractures in adult patients, using open locked intramedullary nailing. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a prospective study which was carried out on all adult patients aged 16 years and above who presented within 2 weeks of sustaining closed femoral shaft fractures to the accident and emergency unit of a University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria from January 2013 to December 2013. Pathological fractures were excluded from the study. The procedure was carried out using standard techniques, and each patient was followed up for a minimum of 1 year. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were recruited into the study. They had a mean age of 36.9 ± 11.7 years, with a male to female ratio of 2.9:1. The most common cause of closed femoral shaft fractures was road traffic crashes (95.3%), with motorcycle-related injuries found to be the highest type (56.1%). The rate of union in the study was 95.3%. The average time to radiological union was 14.0 ± 1.2 weeks while the mean time to painless full weight bearing was 14.2 ± 1.2 weeks. Among the complications encountered were broken nails (4.7%), infection, loosening of the distal screw, and limb length discrepancy (2.3% each). Using Thoresen's criteria, excellent results were obtained in 93% and poor results in 4.7% of patients. CONCLUSION: Open locked intramedullary nailing gives excellent clinical outcomes with high union and low complication rates in the management of closed femoral shaft fractures in adult patients.

Deep calf cavernous haemangioma in a 10 year- old girl: a case report.

Haemangiomas are abnormal proliferation of blood vessels in any vascularised tissue. They can be capillary or cavernous varieties. Cavernous are either of cutaneous or deep types. Cavernous when compared with the capillary haemangioma is rare. Rarer still is the deep type of cavernous haemangioma. This is a report of a 10 year old Nigerian girl who presented with a right posterior leg swelling of 8 year duration, size initially was that of a peanut but increased to fill the entire calf region causing pain to the patient as well as cosmetic and anxiety concern to the parents. No preceding history of trauma, no associated systematic symptoms. She had exploratory laparatomy at 1 year of age at a private hospital for an abdominal mass which was excised. Pre-operative plain radiograph, Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI), Abdominopelvic ultrasound scan (USS) were done, fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) though done was not helpful. Histo-pathology result of excised leg mass confirmed diagnosis; there was a free margin of excision. Post-operatively, clinical improvement was marked.

Bladder stones in catheterized spinal cord-injured patients in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine the incidence of bladder stones in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to assess if catheter encrustation or positive urinary culture of Proteus mirabilis is predictive of bladder stones. BACKGROUND: Bladder stones are common urological complication in those with SCI managed with indwelling urinary catheter. Detection and removal of bladder stones are important to prevent possible further complications. DESIGN: This was a prospective cohort study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ultrasound scan was performed in persons with SCI seen from 1st January to 31st December 2009 who had indwelling urethral catheter for at least 3-month post-injury. Indwelling urethral catheters were examined for encrustation at the time of removal, urine culture taken specifically for P. mirabilis and ultrasound scan done to detect bladder stones. RESULTS: There were 89 patients with spinal cord injury and 68 (76.4%) patients were evaluated during the review period. Twenty-nine (42.6%) patients had bladder stones and 22 (32.3%) patients had catheter encrustation. Of the 22 patients with catheter encrustation, 19 (86.3%) also had bladder stones. Forty-six (67.6%) patients had no catheter encrustation. Of these, 7 (14.7%) were found to have bladder stones. Thirty-seven (38.2%) urine cultures were positive for P. mirabilis. Of these 37 (54.4%) patients, 27 also had bladder stones. Catheter encrustation (P = 0.004) and a positive urine culture of P. mirabilis (P = 0.007) in patients with indwelling urinary catheter is highly predictive of the presence of bladder stone. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that a large number of SCI patients have an indwelling urethral catheter and suggests that ultrasound scan for the presence of stone should be schedule in a catheterized SCI patient if catheter encrustation or a positive urine culture of P. mirabilis is noted.

Outcome analysis of surgical treatment of Blount disease in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate the results of surgery of Blount diseases using the postoperative metaphyseal-diaphyseal angle (MDA) at 2-year follow-up. BACKGROUND: The goal of surgery in Blount disease is to restore the normal configuration of the articular surface of the proximal end of the tibia in proper relationship to the mechanical axis of the limb. Our hypothesis is that patients will demonstrate significant clinical improvements following surgery and predictive models can be developed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who had surgery for Blount disease from January 2002 till December 2007 at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Lagos Nigeria and follow-up for 2 years were included. Data extracted were gender, affected limb, Blount's type, age when deformity was noted, and age at presentation, preoperative femoral tibial angle (TFA), Langenskiold score, preoperative MDA, and postoperative MDA. Linear regression was used to assess the predictive effect of selected clinical and radiographic measures on post-MDA. The model was adjusted for confounders: age deformity noted, age at presentation, affected limb, Blount's type, and gender. Variables in the adjusted model achieving significance at P < 0.05 were included in a multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Eighty-six knees in 57 patients were included. The mean preoperative and postoperative MDA at 2 years was 34.6° ± 8.9° and 10.6° ± 4.3°, respectively. Seventy-three knees (84.9%) have correction of ≤10° with recurrence in 13 (15.1%) knees at 2 years (P < 0.001). The postoperative MDA was graded into good outcome if ≤10°. There was a significant improvement between preoperative MDA and postoperative MDA (P < 0.001). The multilinear analysis demonstrated that the preoperative MDA was a significant predictor of the postoperative MDA. The postoperative MDA was predicted with a standard error of 0.92 with the following formula: post-MDA = 1.027 + 0.404 pre-MDA. CONCLUSION: The mean postoperative MDA of 84.9% of the knees operated at 2 years was 9.4° ± 3.1° with recurrence rate of 15.1%. Postoperative MDA is a good outcome measure for surgical treatment of Blount disease and surgical correction should aim at producing post MDA ≤10°.

Facet joints infiltration: a viable alternative treatment to physiotherapy in patients with low back pain due to facet joint arthropathy.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of information on treatment options and outcome of treatment of patients that have MRI findings of FJA presenting with low back pain in the developing country. This prospective cohort study conducted mainly in the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada, Abuja Nigeria is to compare the short-term clinical outcome between two groups, one having undergone facet joints infiltration (FJI) and the other physiotherapy for facet joint arthropathy (FJA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients with clinical lower back pain (LBP) and MRI features of FJA were recruited into this prospective study randomly. All the FJI patients had depot methylprednisolone and the physiotherapy patients had McKenzie regimen. Outcome questionnaires comprising Oswentry disability index scores (ODI), visual analogue scores (VAS), and patient satisfaction scores (PSS) were completed at all clinic visits. Follow-up was for 6 months for both groups. The results were analyzed using SPSS 17.0. RESULT: There were 10 FJI patients and 8 physiotherapy patients (1.25: 1). The outcome scores comprised the following ODI, VAS, and PSS. The FJI group had a better score compared to the physiotherapy group at short-term evaluation and this difference was statistically significant. The female patients in both groups fare better compared to the male counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: FJI offered added benefit over physiotherapy in LBPs diagnosed with FJA. Patients with FJI have a significant reduction in pain symptom than the patients in the physiotherapy group. Though majority of the patients reported satisfactory outcome, the FJI patients group had a better outcome.

A cost analysis of conservative management of spinal cord-injured patients in Nigeria.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study. OBJECTIVES: To determine the cost of acute phase of injury (ASCI) among spinal cord-injured patients managed conservatively in Nigeria. SETTINGS: Gwagwalada, Abuja. METHODS: Over a 1-year period (1 January 2009 to 31 December 2009), the cost of ASCI of consecutive spinal cord-injured patients, gainfully employed preinjury, who paid the hospital bill directly from their purses and could estimate their daily income, and who were managed conservatively for 6 weeks before discharge to rehabilitation, was prospectively examined. RESULTS: A total of 34 cases of spinal cord-injured patients with a mean age of 35.4 ± 12.8 years were included in this study. The mean cost of ASCI over 6 weeks was $1598.29, an average of 6.4-232.8% of patients' annual income where >50% of the people live on less than a dollar a day. The mean cost of hospitalization was 14.9% of the total cost of ASCI in this study. It was significantly more expensive to treat tetraplegics compared with paraplegics. CONCLUSION: This study identified the cost of acute phase of spinal cord injury in Nigeria to assist clinicians in planning treatment that could reduce financial burden on the patients but optimize patients' care.

Complications and causes of death in spinal cord injury patients in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: There have been many reports on the problems of spinal cord injury (SCI) in Nigeria but few have reported on the complications and causes of death in spinal cord injured patients. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the complications, causes of death and associated risk factors in patients with SCI within six months post injury. METHODS: Patients were retrospectively identified from the hospital trauma database from January 1997 to December 2007. Complications and cause of death within the first six months of SCI were determined along with associated risk factors. RESULTS: Five hundred and eighty-two patients were eligible for analyses and data were obtained for 422 (72.5%) patients with a mean age of 37.2 (±14.2) years at six months follow-up. Muscle spasms 417 (98.8%) and neurogenic pain 382 (94.5%) were the main complications noted. The mortality during the review period was 144 (34.1%). Respiratory failure (44.4%) was the commonest cause of death. The independent predictors of mortality were mainly age, GCS<9, Frankel Type A at presentation and cervical spine injury (CSI) and while CSI and Frankel Type A injury were the main predictors of complications. CONCLUSION: Most common complication and cause of death following SCI are muscle spasm and respiratory failure respectively. The risk factors associated with mortality are age, GCS<9, cervical spinal injury, and complete neurologic injury and those for complications were cervical spinal injury and Frankel Type A injury.