Chronic osteomyelitis of the right femur after electrical burn: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Osteomyelitis is a bone infection that can occur as a rare late complication of electrical burns. It may occur in any bony part of the body where there has been an electrical burn injury. Osteomyelitis occurs several weeks or months after the initial infection, and can persist for several months or years, and is difficult to manage. To our knowledge, to date, no chronic osteomyelitis of the femur has been reported after an electrical burn injury. CASE PRESENTATION: The present case report is of a 40-year-old man who sustained a high voltage electrical burn injury involving his right upper and lower limbs as well as the posterior trunk. The estimated total body surface area burned was 20 %. He developed chronic osteomyelitis of the right femur several months after the initial injury. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: The upper extremities are the sites most frequently affected by chronic osteomyelitis following electrical burns. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common causative organism, and treatment entails a combined medical and surgical approach. CONCLUSION: Osteomyelitis of the long bones of the lower extremities is an uncommon complication of electrical burn injuries involving the lower limbs. We, however, advocate a high index of suspicion when faced with electrical burns of the lower extremity.

Maxillofacial fractures in a budding teaching hospital: a study of pattern of presentation and care.

INTRODUCTION: Previous reports indicated that there is geographic and sociodemographic variation in the epidemiology of maxillofacial fractures. Audit of maxillofacial injuries managed at any institution is therefore necessary to understand the trends and proffer strategies for prevention. We therefore embarked on this study to determine the pattern of maxillofacial fractures and concomitant injuries in our institution. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective review of information on demography, aetiology and type of maxillofacial fracture, patients' status, type of crash, level of consciousness and concomitant injuries. The data collected was analysed with SPSS Version 20. RESULTS: A total of 233 patients aged 2 to 66 years were reviewed. A higher male preponderance (M:F 3.4:1) was observed. Road traffic crashes (RTC) accounted for 78.5% of injuries. Motorcycle related crashes were responsible for 69.4% of RTC and 54.5% of all fractures. Fracture of the mandible (63.2% n=172) was the most predominant skeletal injury and the body (25% n=43) was the most common site of fracture while the zygoma (29%) was predominantly affected in the midface. Ninety three patients (40%) suffered loss of consciousness. The relationship between aetiology of injuries and consciousness level of the patients was statistically significant (p=0.001). Of the 43 patients who had concomitant injuries, craniocerebral affectation (60.5%) was the commonest. CONCLUSION: RTC remains the major aetiology of maxillofacial fractures. The mandible was mostly affected and nearly half of the patients have associated loss of consciousness. There is need for continual advocacy and enforcement of laws on preventive measures among road users.

Comparison of ease of induction of spinal anaesthesia in sitting with legs parallel on the table versus traditional sitting position.

INTRODUCTION: It is sometimes difficult for some patients to optimally flex their hips and knees making traditional position for induction of spinal anaesthesia difficult to achieve. The ease of induction of spinal anaesthesia was compared with patients in sitting position with legs remaining on the table (new sitting method) versus legs placed on the side stool (traditional sitting method). METHODS: One hundred eligible elderly patients, aged between 65 and 80 years, scheduled for open prostactectomy, were prospectively randomized to 2 groups, LS and LT. Patients in (LS group) had their spinal anaesthesia induced in sitting position with their legs placed on the stool while patients in (LT group) had their spinal anaesthesia induced in sitting position with their legs remaning on the operating table. The primary endpoint was correct needle placement. Numbers of attempts, needle redirections and patients' comfort were determined to compare outcome in the two groups. RESULTS: More patients in LS group (78%) than those in the LT group (64%) had successful placement of spinal needle at first attempt (P = 0.12, RR = 1.6, 95% CI = 0.863-3.102). Needle redirections were similar at first attempt (52% versus 40%; P = 0.22). The groups were equivalent with respect to 100% overall success rate (P = 1.000). It took longer time to induce spinal anaesthesia in patients in LS group (240 vs 125s, p < 0.001). Patients in LT were more comfotable. CONCLUSION: The 100% overall success rate was comparable. However, patients were generally more comfortable with their legs placed on the table.

Violence in the emergency department: a multicentre survey of nurses' perceptions in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Emergency department (ED) violence is common and widespread. ED staff receive both verbal and physical abuse, with ED nurses bearing the brunt of this violence. The violence is becoming increasingly common and lethal and many institutions are still improperly prepared to deal with it. METHODS: A questionnaire based survey of the perception of violence among nurses working in six tertiary hospitals' EDs across five states in Nigeria was conducted. RESULTS: 81 nurses were interviewed with a male to female ratio of 1:4. Most were right about the definition of violence. About 88.6% of respondents have witnessed ED violence while 65.0% had been direct victims before. Nurses followed by doctors were the usual victims. The acts were carried out mostly by visitors to the ED. Men were usually responsible for the violence, which usually occurred in the evenings. Weapons were not commonly utilised: only 15.8% of the nurses had been threatened with a weapon over a 1-year period. The main perceived reasons for violence were overcrowded emergency rooms, long waiting time and inadequate system of security. All the institutions were lacking in basic strategies for prevention. While most of the nurses were not satisfied with the EDs that were considered not safe, few would wish for redeployment to other departments/units. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to make the EDs safer for all users. This can be achieved by a deliberate management policy of 'zero' tolerance to workplace violence, effective reporting systems, adequate security and staff training on prevention of violence.

Soft tissue sarcoma of the thigh: need for angiography in the developing countries.

BACKGROUND: Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are relatively rare tumors that are seldom seen in many surgical practices. In the developing countries, most patients present lately to the tertiary center either because of poverty, ignorance, or poor management by the primary health workers that first come into contact with these patients. METHODS: We bring you five patients with large STS thighs that were managed by unity between the years 2005 and 2007. RESULTS: Three of these patients are deceased, and one of the two surviving patients has amputation below the knee. The two surviving patients lost view after 3 months. CONCLUSION: Although angiography has been relegated to the background by the advent of modern techniques such as tomography imaging by computer (CT) and imaging by magnetic mirroring (IRM), in the developing countries angiography remains important as one pri-opiratoire of surgical guide in the thigh STS.

Economic burden of drug use in patients with acute burns: experience in a developing country.

Background/Objective. Burn injury is a devastating injury. The economic drain on the patient's purse is equally devastating. Few studies have examined the cost of managing burn patients particularly the drug component. Methods. The financial implication of drug use in the management of 69 consecutive patients admitted by the burn unit over a period of two years was retrospectively analysed. Results. Thirty-six (52.2%) patients were males and 33 (47.8%) females with a mean age of 17.9 years (SD = 18.4). The patients spent an average sum of $91.21 to procure drugs; 84.3% of the costs were for antibiotics, 11.1% for analgesics, and 4.6% for others. Conclusion. Significant amount of money is spent on the procurement of drugs. Most of the money is spent on prescribed antibiotics. Measures that reduce antibiotics use in burn management might relief patients of the huge economic burden associated with its use.