Sub-Saharan African experience of neurosurgical oncology care: challenges and barriers encountered at 7 cancer treatment centers.

Objective: Wide disparities in neurosurgical oncology care and treatment outcomes exist globally despite recent improvements in diagnostics and cancer therapy. To better understand the challenges to neurosurgical oncology care in low-resource settings, the authors collected data on national neurosurgical capacity and hospital diagnostic and treatment capacity across 7 national referral hospitals in 7 countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Methods: In April 2023, a 42-item self-administered questionnaire was distributed to partner neurosurgeons at the 7 centers via REDCap to provide country- and hospital-level capacity data on neurosurgical oncology care.

Pediatric neurosurgical-oncology scope and management paradigms in Sub-Saharan Africa: a collaboration among 7 referral hospitals on the subcontinent.

Background: Understanding of the epidemiology and biology of pediatric CNS tumors has advanced dramatically over the last decade; however there remains a discrepancy in the understanding of epidemiologic data and clinical capacity between high- and lower-income countries.

Objective: We collected and analyzed hospital-level burden and capacity-oriented data from pediatric neurosurgical oncology units at 7 referral hospitals in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Methods: A cross sectional epidemiological survey was conducted using REDCap at the 7 SSA sites, capturing 3-month aggregate data for patients managed over a total of 9 months.

Spinal Arteriovenous Malformation: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Spinal arteriovenous malformations are rare vascular anomalies within the paediatric age group. These anomalies are associated with devastating consequences and require prompt management to prevent the long-term neurological sequelae. We report a case of a 10-year-old boy with tetraparesis secondary to spinal arterio- venous malformation type III (Juvenile AVM) with rapidly deteriorating neurological signs who had to be managed conservatively due to lack of advanced neurosurgical facilities and interventional radiological services in our facility and sub region.

Assessment of the Neurosurgical Capacity in Ghana: Challenges and Opportunities.

Background: Low- and middle-income countries experience numerous challenges in the provision of neurosurgical care. However, limited information exists on the neurosurgical workforce and the constraints under which care is delivered in Ghana, West Africa.

Methods: A 19-item survey assessing neurosurgical workforce, infrastructure, and education was administered to Ghanaian consultant neurosurgeons and neurosurgeon trainees between November 8, 2021, and January 20, 2022.

Lipoma arborescens in a 16-year-old male: A case report.

Lipoma arborescens is a benign intra-articular tumor characterized by joint effusions, pain, and reduced range of motion. It is rare in adults and children. We present a case of lipoma arborescens in a 16-year-old male.

Preventable Trauma Deaths and Corrective Actions to Prevent Them: A 10-Year Comparative Study at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.

Objective: To determine the rate of preventable trauma deaths in an African hospital, identify the potential effect of improvements in trauma care over the past decade and identify deficiencies in care that still need to be addressed.

Methods: A multidisciplinary panel assessed pre-hospital, hospital, and postmortem data on 89 consecutive in-hospital trauma deaths over 5 months in 2017 at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The panel judged the preventability of each death.