Clinicopathological profile and management challenges of congenital encephaloceles in a tertiary hospital in southwest Nigeria.

Purpose: A congenital encephalocele is the herniation of intracranial contents through skull defects of various sizes. Depending on the site, content, and size, it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in children. There is a paucity of recent and comprehensive local clinical data regarding this anomaly.

Hydrocephalus Management Challenges in a Low-income Country: A Review Article.

Hydrocephalus is a very common brain disorder affecting both children and adult populations. Its global burden has been well documented in the literature, and its management is not without challenges and complications, especially in low-income countries. This study aims at reviewing the management of hydrocephalus in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria and illustrating two cases managed with peculiar challenges.

Clinicopathological Profile of Central Nervous System Tumors in a Tertiary Hospital in Southwest Nigeria.

Background: Central nervous system tumors are a complex heterogeneous group of neoplasm comprising both benign and malignant tumors with varied patterns in clinical picture and histologic profile. There have been some similarities and differences seen in the pattern of clinicopathological profile worldwide, however, there is a paucity of study to show the pattern in Nigeria.

Aim: This study aimed at describing the clinical and histopathological pattern of central nervous system tumors in our institution.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension: Proposal of a stratification strategy for monitoring risk of disease progression.

Objectives: A general consensus based on a multidisciplinary perspective involving an international panel was recently developed for management of patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). In this paper, the authors sought to develop further on the aspect of this consensus that concerns monitoring progression of the disease.

Patients And Methods: A systematic literature review of previous publications on monitoring disease progression in IIH and a meta-analysis to examine efficacy of method of monitoring employed in each study.

The pattern, peculiarities, and management challenges of spina bifida in a teaching hospital in Southwest Nigeria.

Purpose: Spina bifida is a common congenital anomaly of the nervous system. It is frequently associated with significant morbidity and sometimes mortality in affected children. In this paper, we review the clinico-epidemiological pattern, peculiarities, and therapeutic challenges of this condition in our practice setting.

Neurosurgery in rural Nigeria: A prospective study.

Background: Africa has very few neurosurgeons. These are almost exclusively in urban centers. Consequently, people in rural areas, most of the African population, have poor or no access to neurosurgical care.

Patterns of pre-hospital events and management of motorcycle-related injuries in a tropical setting.

This study sought to highlight associated factors and evaluate outcomes of motorcycle-related injuries (MCRI) among adults managed in a university teaching hospital in south-western Nigeria. The study was a cross-sectional descriptive study of 150 adult patients presenting with MCRI at the adult accident and emergency unit of the hospital. Information on the use of helmet, alcohol intake, number of pillion passengers, type of collision and time of arrival at hospital was collected.

Paediatric day-case neurosurgery in a resource challenged setting: Pattern and practice.

Background: It has been generally observed that children achieve better convalescence in the home environment especially if discharged same day after surgery. This is probably due to the fact that children generally tend to feel more at ease in the home environment than in the hospital setting. Only few tertiary health institutions provide routine day-case surgery for paediatric neurosurgical patients in our sub-region.

Optic nerve sonography: A noninvasive means of detecting raised intracranial pressure in a resource-limited setting.

Objective: The aim was to assess the use of optic nerve sonography (ONS) as a quick, noninvasive diagnostic test tool for detecting raised the intracranial pressure (ICP).

Materials And Methods: A prospective blinded observational study was conducted at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The study population consisted of 160 adult patients referred to the radiology department for cranial computed tomography (CT) scan.

Outcome of a posterior spinal fusion technique using spinous process wire and vertical strut.

Background/objective: Spinal fusion is a rapidly developing area of spine surgery. Many of the implants often used are not within the reach of the patients in the developing world. In this study, we describe the outcome of a novel technique of posterior spinal fusion using the rush nail and spinous process wire.

Epidemiology of neurotrauma in Ife-Ijesha zone of Nigeria.

Background And Objective: Trauma remains one of the important causes of severe disability and high mortality. In this study, we looked at the epidemiology of neurotrauma in our region so as to highlight essential factors for trauma prevention program.

Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study of all neurotrauma cases admitted to the neurosurgery service of our hospital over an 18-month period.

CRASH-3 - tranexamic acid for the treatment of significant traumatic brain injury: study protocol for an international randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Worldwide, over 10 million people are killed or hospitalized because of traumatic brain injury each year. About 90% of deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. The condition mostly affects young adults, and many experience long lasting or permanent disability.

The social and economic impacts of epilepsy on women in Nigeria.

Background: Persons with epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa experience stigma and social marginalization. There is paucity of data on the social and economic impacts of epilepsy in these patients and in particular, groups like women. We sought to determine the social and economic impacts of epilepsy on Nigerian women and especially how it affects their treatment and outcomes.

The technique of using rigid vertical strut and spinal process wire for posterior spinal stabilization.

Background And Objective: High cost of conventional spinal instrumentation and the need for intraoperative imaging have forced us to consider other methods of spinal stabilization especially suitable in low-income societies. In this article, we describe our technique of spinal fusion using spinous process wiring and rigid vertical strut. TECHNIQUE AND METHODOLOGY: Vertical strut which has been bent at one end is passed through loops of wire introduced into the base of the spinous processes to be instrumented.

The role of human immunodeficiency virus infection in infranuclear facial paralysis.

Background: This study describes the pattern of idiopathic infranuclear facial palsy (facial neuropathy) and highlights the role of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS in its occurrence and management.

Patients And Methods: This study conducted in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, assessed individuals with idiopathic facial neuropathy seen at the neurology; maxillofacial surgery; and ear, nose and throat outpatient clinics between 1994 and 2006.

Results: Eighty-eight patients with idiopathic facial neuropathy were seen during the 13-year study period.

Factors implicated for late presentations of gross congenital anomaly of the nervous system in a developing nation.

Background: Gross congenital lesions of the nervous system are obvious at birth and usually present early for management and corrective surgery. However in tropical and developing nations, late presentations are common.

Aims: To determine the factors responsible for very late presentations of gross congenital lesions.

New onset neuromyelitis optica in a young Nigerian woman with possible antiphospholipid syndrome: a case report.

Introduction: Devic's neuromyelitis optica is an inflammatory demyelinating disease that targets the optic nerves and spinal cord. It has a worldwide distribution and distinctive features that distinguish it from multiple sclerosis. There has been no previous report of neuromyelitis optica from our practice environment, and we are not aware of any case associated with antiphospholipid syndrome in an African person.

Treatment of cerebrospinal fluid shunting complications in a Nigerian neurosurgery programme. Case illustrations and review.

Background/aims: For a century since the first cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt surgery, ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt insertion for the treatment of hydrocephalus has routinely been performed. A lot of common and rare complications following this procedure have been reported in 24-47% of the cases. The aim of this paper was to present our experience with the treatment of hydrocephalus in our centre and highlight our management of two unusual complications with the available resources.

Compound elevated skull fracture: a forgotten type of skull fracture.

Background And Objective: We report 4 patients who presented with a rare type of vault fracture. This form of fracture has only been described in few instances in the literature.

Case Description: All the patients presented with elevation of free skull fracture fragments.