Plating of Femoral Shaft Fractures: the Experience in an African Teaching Hospital

BACKGROUND

Femoral shaft fractures are common presentation in our trauma units. It is obvious that all these fractures cannot be treated conservatively due to the pressure on trauma beds and thus a suitable method of internal fixation that is feasible in the environment has had to be adopted.

OBJECTIVE

This study is a report of our experience with plate fixation of femoral shaft fracture in our environment.

DESIGN

A retrospective hospital based study.

PATIENT AND METHOD

All patients with femoral shaft fractures stabilized with plates and screws between 1997 and 2004 at the University College Hospital were reviewed. The case notes were retrieved and data extracted from them; all case notes entry gave sufficient information.

RESULTS

The fracture pattern showed 56 cases (35.4%) of Type 32-A, 45 cases (28.5%) of Type 32-B and 57 cases (36.1%) of Type 32-C using AO classification. The outcome of treatment was excellent to good in 125 fractures (77.2%). The average time of healing was 20 weeks (range 16-48). Fracture related complications occurred in nine fractures (5.7%) which included deep infection in four fractures (2.5%) and implant failure in five fractures (3.2%).

CONCLUSION

Femoral shaft plating gives good result if the principles of fixation is carefully followed and in developing countries where initial cost of procurement of equipments for closed nailing may not be forth coming, it thus provide a safe efficient and low cost method of fixation of femoral shaft fracture.

Pattern of congenital orthopaedic malformations in an African teaching hospital

BACKGROUND

Congenital Orthopaedic malformations are common malformations that are usually unacceptable to the common populace in the West African sub-region. There is paucity of knowledge about the common types of Orthopaedic congenital malformations in our environment This study was undertaken to determine the pattern of congenital Orthopaedic malformations in a Teaching Hospital.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a prospective study of all the Orthopaedic congenital malformations seen in our surgical outpatient departments and the inpatient referrals from the wards between January 1995 and December 2003.

RESULT

There were 284 patients in total with a male to female ratio of 2:1 and age range between two days to nine years. Clubfoot (CTEV) accounted for 52.8% of all the malformations while Congenital knee dislocation (CDK) and calcaneovalgus deformity accounted for 8%. Congenital hip dislocation (CDH) accounted for only 2.2% of all the cases.

CONCLUSION

Congenital talipes equinovarus deformity is the most common congenital orthopaedic malformation in this environment while congenital hip dislocation (CDH) is rare when compared with the Caucasians.

Double blind clinical trial comparing the safety and efficacy of nimesulide (100mg) and diclofenac in osteoarthrosis of the hip and knee joints

BACKGROUND

Osteoarthritis of the hip or knees is a very disabling condition in both Caucasians and Africans. A lot of medical drugs have been in use with their corresponding side effects, hence the search for newer drugs with fewer side effects.

STUDY DESIGN

A double blind clinical trial comparing the safety and efficacy of nimesulide and diclofenac was carried out in the University College Hospital Ibadan. All patients referred to the outpatients department of the orthopaedic division with osteoarthritis of the hips and knees who met the criteria for inclusion in the study were used for the study.

RESULTS

There were a total number of sixty-seven (67) patients. 70.6% of the nimesulide patients had only mild pain in the involved joint on completion of the eight weeks trial compared to 50% of the diclofenac group. A significant proportion of the patients in the diclofenac group (50% vs 17.6%) had break through pain that warranted the use of at least two tablets of 500mg of paracetamol per week in contrast to the nimesulide group. There was a statistically significant difference in the frequency of side effects between the patients in the diclofenac group and the nimesulide group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Nimesulide was found to be more effective in relieving pain in osteoarthritis of the hip and knees and with less side effects than diclofenac.

Normal values of knee angle, intercondylar and intermalleolar distances in Nigerian children

There is little data on the range of variation of knee angle, intermalleolar and intercondylar distances in African children. Such measurements are needed to assist determining whether a child legs are normal or not. Knee angle intermalleolar and intercondylar distances were measured in 2166 Nigerian children aged one year to 10 years to establish normal values for these measurements. In the study we discovered that knees were maximally bowed at ages 1-3 years and reduced to neutral of 0 degrees at age five (5 years) in girls and age seven (7) in boys. Both sexes had no bowing after age (7 years) in boys. Both sexes had no bowing after age of 7 years. The valgus angle was found to be constant at about 11 degrees between ages 1-10 years in both sexes. Mean intercondylar distance was 0.2 cm at 1 year of age and did not vary significantly at 10 years of age. The greatest intermalleolar distances of 2.5 cm and 2.2 cm were noted between the ages of 2 and 4 years. Normograms of these measurements are presented as diagnostic aids in clinical settings.

The complications seen from the treatment by traditional bonesetters

Traditional bone setters are rampant in the West African subregion but the atrocities committed by them have never been reported hence the need for this article that deals with the menace caused by them. All patients referred to the University College Hospital between 1996 and 2001 were included in this study. Only a few number of the patients have been selected just to illustrate the menace caused by the traditional bonesetters in so many African societies. The deformities, financial loss and amputations resulting from the management by traditional bonesetters have been highlighted. Suggestions are made on how to improve awareness in the way of adequate communications through televisions, radio and the press. Much need to be done in the society as it was found in the study that poverty or lack of education alone is not the major cause of the society seeking the help of the traditional healers, but probably the culture and traditional beliefs of the society.

Congenital dislocation of the knee in Ibadan, Nigeria

Between January 1996 and December 2001, 41 congenital dislocations of the knee joints (30 patients) were reduced with closed methods by immediate reduction without anaesthesia and serial casting in plaster of Paris immobilization for a period of six to eight weeks. The patients' age ranged from the age of one week to four weeks with a male to female ratio of 1.5:1. The right knee was involved in 46.65% the left in 16.6% and bilateral involvement in 36.65% of patients. Routine check of the hip did not reveal any patient with hip instability. All the patients followed up after 2 years showed excellent results. We conclude that congenital knee dislocation when discovered early and without any other congenital malformation can be managed conservatively with excellent results.

Limb conservation using non vascularised fibular grafts

This paper highlights the use of non-vascularised fibular graft in limb reconstruction from bone loss due to trauma and infection. Bone loss can occur from severe high velocity injuries due to road traffic accidents, severe neglected infections, and osteolytic tumours. In majority of cases, the surgeon is left with the only option of an amputation especially where there is no access to microvascular surgery and microvascular bone grafting devices. This is a major problem in the West African subregion hence the need for this article. We present illustrative cases of limb conservation in an adult involved in a high velocity trauma and a child with a destructive osteolytic infection culminating in bone loss. The patients are still been followed up in our surgical outpatient clinics.

Quadriceps tendon rupture in an adolescent

Quadriceps tendon rupture is said to be rare in patients younger than 40 years of age. We report a case of quadriceps tendon rupture in a 13 year old athletic boy.

Acute calcific tendinitis simulating tendon sheath infection

Tendon sheath infection has catastrophic consequences if not diagnosed. We present acute calcific tendinitis, a simulator of tendon sheath infection with a good prognosis in a 14 year old athletic tennis player.