Management of the mass casualty from the 2001 Jos crisis.

Background: We report our experience in the hospital management of mass casualty following the Jos civil crisis of 2001.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of the records of patients managed in the Jos civil crisis of September 2001, in Plateau State, Nigeria. Information extracted included demographic data of patients, mechanisms of injury, nature and site of injury, treatment modalities and outcome of care.

Determinants of patronage of traditional bone setters in the middle belt of Nigeria.

Background: Traditional bone setting is a practice that is common in our environment. This is a community based survey of opinions concerning orthodox and traditional fracture management in four states of the middle belt of Nigeria. We set out to ascertain the factors influencing preference of treatment of fractures among populations in the middle belt of Nigeria.

Gastrointestinal perforation following blunt abdominal trauma.

Objective: To highlight the pertinent management problems of bowel perforation following blunt abdominal trauma.

Design: A prospective descriptive study.

Setting: Hospital-based cohort over a nine year period in Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.

Epidemiology of soft tissue sarcomas in Jos, North Central Nigeria.

Background: Soft tissue sarcomas are a complex heterogeneous group of tumours that often cause a diagnostic problem. Special stains are often employed for further differentiation of these tumours. As a group, soft tissue sarcomas are not uncommon as previously believed.

Anterior abdominal wall hydatid cyst; an unusual presentation.

Background: Hydatid disease is common in sheep rearing communities, often presenting with hepatic cysts in a majority of cases. Musculo-skeletal involvement as occurred in our patient is an unusual manifestation. Hydatid disease should be considered a differential of superficial and soft tissue swellings in our environment.

Digital rectal examination for prostate cancer: attitude and experience of final year medical students.

Objective: Prostate cancer which tends to take an aggressive course in black populations can be detected by digital rectal examination (DRE). There are concerns however that medical students are not acquiring the necessary DRE skills. We therefore studied their experience and attitude towards DRE for prostate cancer to assist us make any necessary adjustments in training.

Incarcerated umbilical hernia in children.

Background: Umbilical hernia is common in children. Complications from umbilical hernias are thought to be rare and the natural history is spontaneous closure within 5 years.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of the medical records of a series of 23 children who presented with incarcerated umbilical hernias at our institution over an 8-year period.

The acute scrotum: aetiology, management and early outcome-preliminary report.

Background: Most patients with acute scrotal pain may require urgent exploration. We determined the aetiological factors, treatment and early complications in such patients.

Methods: This was a prospective study of consecutive patients presenting with the acute scrotum at Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria from January 2001 to December 2002.

Male breast malignancy in Jos University Teaching Hospital.

Background: Male breast malignancies are rare. Cancer of the male breast accounts for about 1% of all breast cancers. Poor level of awareness often results in late presentation and delayed diagnosis in our environment.

Typhoid intestinal perforation in north central Nigeria.

Background: Typhoid intestinal perforation is a surgical problem with severe morbidity and high mortality in North Central Nigeria.

Patients And Methods: In order to determine the pattern and the prognostic indices, we studied 101 patients with typhoid intestinal perforation managed over a ten-year period

Results: Children constituted 49% of the cases and majority (78%) of the patients were in the low socio-economic strata. The incidence peaked to 67% between November and March - the dry season in Nigeria.

A review of the radiological diagnosis of small bowel obstruction using various imaging modalities.

Radiological investigation is an important tool in the diagnosis of small bowel obstruction (SBO). While plain abdominal radiograph remains the commonest investigation done in SBO, contrast gastrointestinal radiography, ultrasonography (US), computerised tomography (CT) scan -- with or without contrast enhancement are increasingly being advocated particularly in equivocal cases of SBO. We conducted manual, medicine and internet search for relevant literature on diagnosis of SBO using radiological investigations.

Thyroglossal duct lesions in childhood--a review of experience in Nigerian children.

This is a retrospective study of 36 children with thyroglossal duct lesions managed at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria, between 1993 and 2003. The aim was to determine the pattern of presentation and outcome of management. The majority of patients presented with a chronic thyroglossal sinus with associated recurrent inflammation.

Prevalence of umbilical hernia in a private school admission-seeking Nigerian children.

Background: Despite the claims that umbilical hernia (UH) is common among Nigerian children, the socio-economic class-related prevalence or incidence rate of UH in the Nigerian children is not known. We therefore undertook this study to determine the prevalence of UHs among Nigerian children of high socio-economic class.

Patients And Methods: This 7- years prospective study assessment of the prevalence of primary umbilical hernias among a private school admission seeking Nigerian children.

Acute appendicitis in inguinal hernia: report of two cases.

We report two cases of acute appendicitis in right incarcerated inguinal hernia (Amyand's hernia). One patient had gangrenous appendicitis that affected the adjoining caecum. A limited right hemicolectomy was done by extending the groin incision laterally and proximally.

Lower limb amputation in Jos, Nigeria.

Objective: To determine the pattern of lower limb amputation (LLA) and highlight preventable causes in our hospital.

Design: A retrospective study.

Setting: University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.

Acquired rectal fistula in human immunodeficiency virus-positive children: a causal or casual relationship?

Acquired rectal fistula in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive children is a new and worrisome entity. The aim of this paper is to highlight the relationship between HIV infection and acquired rectal fistula (RF) in children in order to create awareness among clinicians who attend to children. Over a 1-year period, 11 girls aged 4 weeks-11 months (median 5 months) with acquired RF were managed at our institution.

Mass casualty management: Jos University Teaching Hospital experience.

Three experiences of management of mass casualties in Jos University Teaching Hospital were analysed. Classification into minor, moderate and major mass casualties was done using multiple criteria of number of casualties, number of doctors required to contain the situation, number of nurses and paramedical staff, degree of distruption of hospital services and time required to handle the immediate stabilisation of the casualties. The classification recognises a category called "regional disaster" and attempts to enunciate a principle of initiation, mobilisation and co-ordination of management of such disasters among hospitals and human and material resources within the region.

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie's syndrome). A case presentation and review of literature.

The syndrome of acute colonic pseudo-obstruction popularly known as Ogilvie's syndrome is an infrequent pathology and has been the subject of numerous medical communications in the past two decades. Its aetiology and pathophysiology remains poorly understood and patients are still treated inappropriately. In this report, a patient with acute colonic pseudo-obstruction managed surgically is presented.

Pyogenic thyroiditis and HIV infection.

Infective thyroiditis remain rare disease entity. Six patients were seen in Jos, Nigeria in the last five years. All of them were HIV positive.

Immediate mass casualty management in Jos University Teaching Hospital: a successful trial of Jos protocol.

Traumatic, injuries arising from high velocity means of mobility, increased industrialization, frequent ethnic and religious classes and terrorist activities by way of bomb blasts, etc., often result in sudden unexpected mass casualty presenting to a given secondary or tertiary health institution. The successful management of such situation involves multidimensional and multidisciplinary approach anchored on awareness, preplanning and alertness.

Management of childhood splenic trauma--the Jos experience.

We studied retrospectively 22 children who were managed for splenic injuries at Jos University Teaching Hospital between September 1988 and October 1995. Sixteen were males and six were females (M:F = 2.7:1) with their ages between five and 15 years and a mean of 10.

Experience in managing splenic trauma on the Jos Plateau.

We studied retrospectively, fifty eight (58) patients with splenic injury admitted to Jos University Teaching Hospital between October 1988 and September, 1995. Forty-nine were males while nine were females (M:F = 5.4:1).