Title: Profile of Neurosurgical Emergencies in a Young Neurosurgical Centre in South-East Nigeria – A Three -Year Review
Authors: Ozor I.I, Guga D.A, Mezue W.C, Chikani M.C, Nevo A.C, Nduagubam O.C, Agwagu Z.N
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v8i6.120
Abstract
Background/Purpose: This study was undertaken to determine the demographic and clinical profile of patients who presented toa young Neurosurgery service through the accident and emergency department in a tertiary hospital in south-east Nigeria.
Methods: A retrospective study of all consecutive neurosurgical patients admitted in the accident and emergency department of the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Enugu, Nigeria over the three-year period ending 31st December, 2017. Admission records and patients’ case notes were reviewed. Data were collected on proforma sheets designed for this study and analysed with SPSS version 20.0.
Results: Of the 495 surgical patients who presented to the accident and emergency department of the hospital within the period under review, 134 were neurosurgical patients, constituting 27.07% of all surgical emergencies seen. They were predominantly male (M:F = 3.5:1), and their ages ranged from 1 to 86 years (mean 32.48 ± 19.06 years). Young patients 18 to 40 years old were the main age group affected, constituting 56% of the study population. Neuro-trauma accounted for 98.5% of cases – 118 (88.1%) for head injury and 14 (10.4%) for spine/spinal cord injury.
The month with the highest number of admissions was December, a month with increased road traffic activity by people travelling for Christmas celebrations and other end-of-year festivities.
Conclusion: Neuro-trauma remains a dominant neurosurgical emergency in Nigeria with a peak incidence in the festive month of December. Young people constitute the majority of victims, with a male preponderance. Measures targeted at reducing the incidence of road traffic crashes and consequent injuries, especially during festive periods would lessen the burden of neurosurgical emergencies.
Keywords: Head injury, Spinal cord injury, Motor vehicular crash, Festive period.
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