Assessment of early functional outcome of lumbar discectomy in Soba and Future hospitals, Khartoum, Sudan 2021.

Background: Herniated lumbar disc is one of the common causes of back pain. Discectomy provides rapid relief of back pain and radicular pain. Few studies have been done in our setting to look for the outcome of discectomy. The purpose of this study was to assess the outcome of discectomy. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional hospital-based study was carried out on Soba Teaching Hospital and Future hospitals in Khartoum, Sudan. Sixty-one patients with lumbar discectomy were included in this study, collected data through a direct interviewing questionnaire and took some information from patients' files. Then collected data were analyzed using the statistical package for social science (SPSS) 24. Results: In sixty-one patients with lumbar discectomy of them, 24(39.3%) were within the age group 31-45 years old, 21(34.4%) were within the age group 46-50 years old, and 10(16.4%) were within age group 51-65years old. Results showed a male-to-female ratio of 1.5:1. The most common presenting symptoms were right Leg pain or numbness in 14(23%) patients. In the majority, 33(54.1%) of patients, the duration of symptoms was 6-12 months, 46(75.4%) underwent discectomy only, and 15(24.6%) underwent discectomy with fusion. Preoperatively, the majority of 30(49.1%) patients had a complete disability, 26(42.6%) had a severe disability, and 5(8.2%) had a moderate disability. In contrast, postoperatively, the majority, 35(57.4%) of patients, had mild disability, 24(39.3%) had no disability, and only 2(3.3%) had moderate disability (P value < .001). Moreover, there was a statistically significant association between the presence of co-morbidity and postoperative outcome (P value = .021). Conclusion: Discectomy is a gold stander procedure in the management of LDH. Patients showed excellent functional outcomes. The most common presenting symptoms were right leg pain or numbness. Patients postoperatively showed significant clinical improvement according to the mODI score.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa: Efforts, recommendations and challenges at hand.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions have suffered globally and as a result, attention and resources for other diseases, such as Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), has declined. Despite a significantly lower incidence rate compared to COVID-19, CCHF has a considerably higher mortality rate at approximately 30%. Both diseases share symptoms such as headache, fever, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, sore throat, however they have different modes of transmission, mortality rates, and incubation periods. Public health professionals have faced several challenges when attempting to prevent and control the spread of both diseases and despite their differences, many of the prevention methods remain the same. These include increasing public awareness regarding avoiding contact with infected individuals and animals, training healthcare professionals in emergency and preparedness for disease outbreaks and increasing the investment in medical supplies and treatment to control the spread of both diseases.

A bilateral asymmetrical hip dislocation: A rare case report.

A 17-year-old male was ejected from the motorcycle and brought to the Emergency Department with bilateral hip dislocation and absence of pelvic or femur fractures or sciatic nerve injury. Closed reduction and postreduction examination were performed with a bilateral stable full range of motion in all directions.