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.

Challenges of the management of mass casualty: lessons learned from the Jos crisis of 2001.

Background: Jos has witnessed a series of civil crises which have generated mass casualties that the Jos University Teaching Hospital has had to respond to from time to time. We review the challenges that we encountered in the management of the victims of the 2001 crisis.

Methodology: We reviewed the findings of our debriefing sessions following the sectarian crisis of September 2001 and identified the challenges and obstacles experienced during these periods.

The conundrum of polytrauma on the jos plateau.

Background: The leading cause of morbidity and mortality from the end of the first year of life to the forty fifth is trauma. This is true worldwide but especially so in our environment. In no other situation are the complexities of the management of trauma more manifest than in the context of polytrauma.

Motorcycle injuries in North-Central Nigeria.

Background: The increasing use of commercial motorcycle as mode of transportation in urban cities in Nigeria has become important source of morbidity and mortality. This is coupled with poor helmet use, narrow roads, increasing traffic, and poor licensing of the motorcycle riders. The objectives of this study are to determine the pattern of injuries following accident involving motorcycles, the mortality rate, and the immediate causes of mortality.

Implementing a hospital based injury surveillance system: a case study in Nigeria.

A pilot study of violent injury surveillance was implemented in two hospitals in Kano, Nigeria, in two phases: a formative evaluation including training and arranging the collection of hospital information, followed by a 6 month prospective data collection. Road traffic injuries constituted about 80 per cent of the cases, gunshot injuries were the commonest in victims of interpersonal violence (IPV). The causes and context of IPV, the relationship of victims and perpetrators, and the place, related activities and anatomical site of injuries from IPV are summarized.

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.

Comparative analysis of urethral catheterization versus suprapubic cystostomy in management of neurogenic bladder in spinal injured patients.

Background: The objective of this study was, to prospectively and retro respectively evaluate urethral catheterization (UC) versus supra-pubic cystostomy (SPC) in prevention of urinary tract infection (UTI) in patients with spinal cord injury lesion.

Methods: A total of 125 patients with neurogenic bladder and a mean age of 30 years had UC (n=80) and SPC (n=40) at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) between January 1984 and June 2005.

Results: Episodes of UTI were significantly more; UC 65% versus 14% forS PC (P< O 0 5).

Bone setters' gangrene.

Background: Gangrene usually supervenes following prolonged pressure of tight splintage by traditional bone setters (TBS) in the process of treating fractures. However, various complications such as blisters, pressure, sores, Volkmann's ischaemia/contracture, Crush syndrome and pregangrene occur by the same mechanism depending on degree of pressure and duration of splintage of the limb.

Method: This is a guest lecture delivered to resident doctors.

The efficacy and toleration of celecoxib (Celebrex) in the treatment of osteoarthritis in Nigeria: a multicentre study.

Background: Non-selective, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are effective in terms of pain relief and improving function in osteoarthritis. The advent of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) specific inhibitor, celecoxib, in the treatment of osteoarthritis has shown similar efficacy in relieving pain in osteoarthritis with low incidence of GI (Gastrointestinal) symptoms.

Objective: To determine the efficacy and toleration of celecoxib in treatment of osteoarthritis in Nigerian population.

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.

Surgical experience with management of vascular injuries.

Unlabelled: To highlight the problems that are associated with the causes, diagnosis and management of vascular injuries.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study of 52 cases of vascular injuries managed at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) during a ten year period.

Results: The sex ratio M:F was 6:1 and the mean age at presentation was 23 years.

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.

Chronic osteomyelitis in patients with sickle cell disease.

Objective: To determine the baseline pattern and audit management modalities of chronic osteomyelitis in patients with sickle cell disease.

Design: A retrospective study.

Setting: Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria from August 1993 to July 1997.

Spinal injuries in the Plateau State, Nigeria.

Objective: To highlight the epidemiology, management and outcome of spinal cord injuries (SCI) in the Plateau State of Nigeria.

Design: A retrospective study involving case note analysis of all patients with SCI admitted into the hospital.

Setting: The study was carried out at the Jos University Teaching Hospital to cover January 1984 and December, 1997.