BackgroundOverweight and obesity have been identified as independent risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders. However, the association between obesity and low back pain remains controversial. Little is known about the effects of overweight and obesity on the angles of the lumbosacral spine. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of body mass index (BMI) and waist–hip ratio (WHR) on lumbosacral angles.MethodsThe effects of BMI and WHR on the lumbar lordosis angle (LLA), lumbosacral angle (LSA), sacral inclination angle (°°), and lumbosacral disc angle (LSDA) of 174 overweight and obese subjects (test group) and 126 underweight and normal-weight subjects (control group) were analyzed.ResultsThe test group had a significantly higher mean LSA, LLA, sacral inclination angle (SIA), and LSDA (P=0.001). A significant correlation was noted between BMI and LSA (P=0.001), LLA (P=0.001), SIA (P=0.001), and LSDA (P=0.03). There was also a positive relationship between WHR and LSA (P=0.012), LLA (P=0.009), SIA (P=0.02), and LSDA (P=0.01).ConclusionThere was an increase in lumbosacral angles in individuals with raised BMI and WHR. This may result in biomechanical changes in the lumbosacral spine, which increase the incidence of low back pain.

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Disparity still exists in the surgical care between sub-Saharan Africa and developed countries. Several international initiatives have been undertaken in the past decades to address the disparity. This study looks at the impact of these programs in child surgery in Sub-Saharan Africa. Review of electronic databases Medline and African Index Medicus on international partnerships for child surgery in Sub-Saharan Africa was undertaken. Four types of international initiatives were identified and consist of periodic medical missions; partnerships between foreign medical institutions or charities and local institutions; international health electives by surgical residents; and training of individual surgeons from developing countries in foreign institutions. The results of these efforts were variable, but sustainability and self-reliance of host nations were limited. Sociocultural factors, dearth of facilities, and lack of local governments' commitment were main impediments to effective local development or transfer of modern protocols of surgical management and improvement of pediatric surgical care at the host community level. Current initiatives may need improvements with better understanding of the sociocultural dynamics and local politics of the host nation, and improved host nation involvement and commitment. This may engender development of locally controlled viable services and sustainable high level of care.

Gas gangrene (clostridial myonecrosis) is rarely seen and this rarity, coupled with its dramatic presentation and often devastating outcome, makes each case of gas gangrene a spectacular and memorable experience. This study analyses the cases managed, the causes and outcome. Gunshot wounds, compounded by late presentation with its accompanying florid infections, were seen as the causes in 14 cases of gas gangrene seen at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu during the four-year study period from July 2000 to June 2004.

Background: The review aimed at systematically examining the evidence in articles that assess the clinical effects and impact of traditional bonesetters on contemporary fracture care in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs).Methods: A systematic review was conducted. Articles were identified by database searching ((PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect, SCOPUS, and Web of Science). Searching, selecting and reporting were conducted according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) Statement. The key words that were used in search for literature were: “Bonesetter”, “fracture healer” and “traditional bone setting”. Publications included for review were original articles, set in an LMIC and directly talked about the role and/or impact of traditional bonesetters in providing fracture care. Papers that focused on Low and Middle Income (LMIC) settings were reviewed.Results: A total of 176 papers were screened for eligibility and 15 studies were finally included. Nine were prospective studies, while 6 were retrospective studies. Most of the studies focused on clinical impacts of bone setter intervention. The evidence from the publications show that the main clinical effects of traditional bonesetters had been deleterious, but they had the potential to contribute positively when trained.Conclusion: Few well designed studies are available that assessed the impact of traditional bonesetters. Reported cases and reviews indicate their impact to be deleterious. However, the potential exist that when trained, these deleterious impact can be reduced through training for traditional bonesetters who contribute to fracture care in many LMICs.

The Nigerian oil and gas industry is the mainstay of the economy generating over 70% of government revenues and over 90% of foreign exchange earnings. Despite the value additions, the industry is plagued with challenges some of which are declining oil production and revenue, aging assets, insecurity in oil and gas assets, high production costs in the upstream sector and safety of assets and personnel. To tackle these challenges, accelerate growth and increase competitive advantage in the industry, the National Oil and Gas Excellence Centre (NOGEC) was established on 21st January 2021. NOGEC was founded on three core objectives – safety, cost efficiency and value addition to support the Federal Government's commitment on ensuring stability, economic development, and sustainability of the Nigerian petroleum industry. This paper discusses the gaps and challenges which has plagued the petroleum industry and opportunities which NOGEC will provide.

In most low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), traditional bonesetters (TBS) still play an integral role in trauma care [1]. The practice of traditional bonesetting dates a long way back and is common in many developing countries in Africa, South America and the Indian subcontinent [2], where traditional care of injuries and diseases has remained popular despite modern health care services and advancement in various spheres of life [2,3]. Bonesetting skills are usually passed down the family line without any documentation. TBS receive no formal training in modern orthopaedic care and their practice is kept a family secret as part of ancestral heritage [4].Despite the presence and availability of modern orthopaedic services (MOS), TBS enjoy high patronage and wide acceptance across different social and educational strata and religions [5], for reasons documented by several authors [6][7][8][9]. In Nigeria, TBS provide about 70%-90% of primary fracture care in certain areas [10]; thus, this method of fracture