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Background:A major goal in neurotrauma management is the prevention of secondary neuronal injuries. This goal is time bound as neurological deficits once established are usually irreversible. Late presentation is the norm in most neurotrauma patients in developing countries.Aims:The aim of the study was to review the timing of presentation of neurotrauma patients and the possible causes of their late presentation for neurosurgical care in our practice.Methods:A cross-sectional study of a 4-month prospective database of neurotrauma patients presenting to the University College Hospital, Ibadan, was done. The participants’ biodata, injury characteristics, initial-care details before referral, and information on timing and causes of delay were analyzed.Results:The study subjects included 111 patients, 80.2% (89/111) were males, and 52.8% aged 21–40 years. Head injury (HI), spinal cord injury (SCI), and combined HI and SCI occurred, respectively, in 80.2%, 14.4%, and 5.4%. Road accidents followed by falls were seen in 73.9% and 14.4% (16), respectively. Just 46.8% (52/111) cases presented within 12 h of injury and only 37 (33.3%) within 4 h. Majority, 83.8% (93/111) were referrals from primary care. These referrals were delayed in 81.7% (76/93) of these. The referring health facilities were located intracity with our center in 54%. Other causes of delayed presentation of these study participants included long-distance travel to our center, lack of funds, or a combination of the above factors. Eighty-nine patients (80.2%) were brought in by family members and the remaining minority by passers-by and road safety personnel.Conclusions:Delayed referral from primary care features prominently in timing of presentation of neurotrauma patients in Nigeria. There is a need for collaboration as well as continuing medical education between the neurotrauma specialists and primary care physicians.

Background In Nigeria, pre-neurosurgical care of most neurotrauma patients usually involves administration of many empirical agents including antibiotics with no apparent indications. This practice is fraught with two particular dangers: increase in health care costs and development of drug resistance. This study aimed to interrogate antibiotic stewardship in the pre-neurosurgical care of neurotrauma patients referred to our practice. Materials and Methods This 7-month prospective descriptive study was performed in one University Teaching Hospital of a developing country. Clinical data on all admitted neurotrauma patients with information on the pre-neurosurgical treatment received were captured and analyzed. Results There were 113 patients, 87(77.0%) males; 103(91.2%) had head injury, and 10(8.8%) spinal cord injury. Associated systemic injuries occurred in 47(41.6%): 40 involved skeletal and soft tissue systems, and 12(10.6%) presented with aspiration pneumonitis. These patients were referrals from public health facilities including primary health facilities (PHF), secondary (SHF), and tertiary (THF), as well as private clinics (PC). Antibiotics were given to 74 (65.5%) patients, with a probabilistic indication in only 17.6% (13/74) of these. The proportional distribution of this antibiotic administration according to the referral base was not statistically significant (χ 2 =6.87, p = 0.3): 70% (14/20) from PHF, 56% (14/25) from SHF, 71% (23/32) from THF, and 63% (23/36) from PC. The antimicrobial agent administered was specified in 40 cases: Ceftriaxone was the commonest antibiotic agent implicated. Conclusion There is apparent unnecessary exposure of patients to antibiotics in the pre-neurosurgical care of neurotrauma in this study. There is, therefore, need for education on antibiotic stewardship to the group of health workers involved.

Attempts at reconstruction of posttraumatic craniofacial defects (PTCDs) can be a challenge in low-resource practice areas of the world where the needed biomaterials are logistically beyond reach. A simple low-profile technique of autologous osteosynthesis for PTCD using the titanium clamps is presented in this report. In addition, a 6-year prospective database on a consecutive cohort of patients who underwent this procedure was analyzed for clinical, functional, and aesthetic outcomes, both in-hospital and at midterm follow-up. The clinical data of 18 patients, all males, mean age 31.3 years (standard deviation, 9.7), were analyzed. Road traffic accidents (RTAs) were the cause of trauma in 14 of 18 patients (78%) and motorcycle crash, none helmeted, in 10 of the 18 patients (71% of RTAs). Out of 18 cases, 17 were open fractures; 89% suffered mild head injury, and associated brain injury on CT scan included pneumocephalus in 6 (5 of them significant); acute extradural hematoma in 4 and subdural in 2, and brain contusions in 9. The surgery was successful in all the cases: operative time <3 hours in 10 cases (56%), the in-hospital outcome was good in 95%. The median follow-up time was 24 months, in 6 of the 18 cases for ≥36 months. There was no case of surgical site infection in the perioperative or the follow-up period to date. The aesthetic outcome was also acceptable. This surgical technique for the reconstruction of PTCD appears effectual. Although its low cost makes it very attractive therein, it appears to be actually also recommendable even outside the low-resource developing countries.