Kernohan-Woltman notch phenomenon in patient with subdural hematoma and ipsilateral hemiparesis in Bukavu.

Key Clinical Message: Kernohan-Woltman phenomenon is a rare and paradoxical neurological situation in which a transtentorial lesion leads to compression of the contralateral cerebral peduncle responsible for compression of the descending corticospinal fibers with clinical consequence of a motor deficit ipsilateral to the primary lesion. This phenomenon should attract the attention of clinicians in order to avoid unfortunate incidents such as wrong-side craniotomy in neurosurgical practice. In this work, we report a similar situation. Abstract: The Kernohan-Woltman notch phenomenon is a rare and paradoxical neurological situation in which transtentorial damage is observed leading to compression of the contralateral cerebral peduncle responsible for compression of descending corticospinal fibers with the clinical consequence of a motor deficit ipsilateral to the primary lesion. This phenomenon has been found in several situations including tumors and cerebral hematomas after craniocerebral trauma. In this work, we have reported the case of a 52-year-old man with hemiparesis ipsilateral to a large chronic subdural hematoma.

Atypical caudal regression syndrome with lumbar agenesis, hypoplastic sacrum without sacroiliac joints in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: a case report.

The agenesis of any segment of the lower spinal column referred to as "caudal regression syndrome" (CRS) is a rare congenital defect of the spine. This malformation is characterized by the absence of some or the entire lumbosacral vertebral segment. Etiological factors remain unknown. We report an atypical caudal regression syndrome with lumbar agenesis, disconnected from the remaining hypoplastic sacrum, in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).An 11-month-old female infant with no particular fetal or maternal history presented limb weakness with flexed knees and flanges in the popliteal fossae, sphincter atony, and a sensation of emptiness on palpation in the lumbosacral region. A 3D CT scan of the spine showed the absence of the lumbar spine and disconnection of the upper segment of the thoracic spine from the hypoplastic sacrum. We noted also the absence of the sacroiliac joints bilaterally and an unusual trigonal shape of the iliac bones. MRI and sonographic examination are required in the investigation of the disease. The management is multidisciplinary and depends upon the degree of the defect. Spine reconstruction has proven to be a valuable management technique but has many complications. We wanted to draw the medical world's attention to the existence of this extremely rare malformation in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a mining area.

Multiple Bladder Diverticula Presenting in an 82-Year-Old Congolese Male.

Bladder diverticulum is a congenital malformation characterized by the outpouching of the bladder following an obstruction of urine flux. We present a case of 82-year-old Congolese male patient presented at our facility with a poor urinary stream and lower abdominal pain. A distended abdomen was found on physical examination while the external genitalia were normal. All blood laboratory values were found to be within normal ranges. The patient's urine analysis revealed an uncountable number of white blood cells. Ultrasonography revealed multiple diverticula in the right posterolateral and posterior wall. An ultrasound of the abdomen revealed numerous bladder diverticula in the bladder's left posterolateral and posterior aspects, mild right-sided hydronephrosis, and severe left hydronephrosis with a thinned-out cortex. Both ureters were normal. A computed tomographic (CT) scan of the abdomen confirmed the diagnosis. The patient underwent an open laparotomy which allowed complete ablation of the diverticula followed by bladder wall repair. A one-week course of antibiotics was prescribed, and the patient was discharged fully recovered with no immediate complications. Although bladder diverticula are a congenital malformation, the presence of multiple diverticula suggests that the condition is acquired. In elderly patients, open laparotomy combined with intravenous antibiotics yields positive results.

Hand grenade blast injuries in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: a case series of 38 patients.

INTRODUCTION: The armed conflict in the Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo has caused close to 12,000 deaths. One of the most lethal weapons in armed conflicts is the high explosive hand grenade. The study aimed to describe the epidemiology, presentation, and outcomes of hand grenade blast injuries (HGBI) in the Kivu province. METHODS: In this case series, the authors present 2017 to 2020 HGBI admissions at a Congolese trauma center. Measures of central tendency and spread were computed for continuous data. Complication and mortality rates were equally computed. Admission-to-discharge data were disaggregated by the body part injured and by complication status and visualized using time-to-event curves. RESULTS: Thirty-eight HGBI patients aged 31.4 (range 17-56) years were included in the study. Twenty-six (68.4%) were male and the patients were admitted 1.8 days post-injury on average. The patients were hemodynamically stable at admission; 84.2% received the antitetanic vaccine, 21.1% received broad-spectrum antibiotics, and all were debrided (100.0%). The complication rate was 13.2%, and the most common complication was anemia (7.9%). In addition, the mortality rate was 2.6%. The median admission-to-discharge time was 17.0 (range 4-71) days, and it was prolonged in patients with lower extremity injuries (23.0 days). CONCLUSION: HGBIs cause avertable death and disability in the Kivu regions. These data suggest that the burden of HGBIs can be reduced with appropriate preventive and health systems strengthening interventions.

Firearm injuries among children due to the Kivu conflict from 2017 to 2020: A hospital-based retrospective descriptive cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Firearm-related injuries are deadly but avoidable. The case of Kivu, a region in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is alarming. Decades of unresolved regional conflicts birthed armed groups that have massacred inhabitants and injured several children. This regional instability has also created barriers to seeking and obtaining timely care, decreasing the survival rate. This region's lack of data on paediatric fatal and nonfatal firearm injuries (F&NFFIs) needs studying. Thus, we aim to determine the prevalence and evaluate the outcomes of paediatric F&NFFIs in Kivu. METHODS: We included all F&NFFI paediatric patients (≤18 years), admitted at our institution between 2017 and 2020. We extracted data from patient records. Next, we assessed the relationship between determinants of paediatric outcomes using the Chi-square test and the student's t-test. Confounders were identified using cox regression. RESULTS: This study included 101 paediatric patients, mostly male (63.4%), with an average age of 15.9 years residing 164.4 km on average from the hospital. On average, they were admitted 2.9 days post-injury, with the most affected anatomical regions being lower limbs (53.5%) and upper limbs (18.8%). The mean length of stay was 52.9 days, and the mortality rate was 4.0%. Also, injury complications increased the mean length of stay and mortality rate. In addition, mortality was correlated with circulatory failure and anaemia. DISCUSSION: Paediatric F&NFFIs in Eastern DRC is a preventable tragedy. Mortality is increased by injury complications and correlates with some biological factors. Prevention strategies should be developed to protect children and appropriate measures should be established to improve rates of prehospital care and early hospital presentation to lower mortality and improve paediatric outcomes.

Human Milk output among mothers previously treated for severe acute malnutrition in childhood in Democratic Republic of Congo.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is a public health problem, as wasting affects 7.5% of children worldwide. The harmful effects of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) can last a lifetime, but how SAM in childhood affects later breastfeeding ability is not clear. In the present study, we assessed the human milk output and body composition among mothers with a history of childhood SAM. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was carried out in Miti-Murhesa Health Zone (Democratic Republic of Congo) from January 15 to March 17, 2020. We selected lactating mothers with breastfed infants aged 2-12 months. Two categories of mothers were included: those who had been treated for SAM during their childhood (years 1988-2003; n = 39) and a community control with no history of SAM (n = 40). The weight, height, and mid-upper arm circumference were measured and body mass index (BMI) calculated as weight/height2. Body composition and human milk output were assessed using standard deuterium dilution methods. Student t and chi2 tests ware applied to compare two groups. RESULTS: The mean age ± standard deviation of the mothers was 24.4 ± 5.1 and 26.0 ± 6.1 years for the SAM and control groups, respectively (p = 0.186). The age of their infants was 5.4 ± 2.3 months in both groups (p = 0.962). In the SAM and control groups, the mean maternal BMI was 23.8 ± 2.3 and 23.6 ± 3.7 kg/m2 (p = 0.849), mean Fat Mass 27.1% ± 5.0 and 27.1% ± 5.8% (p = 0.708), and the mean Fat Free mass 72.9% ± 5.0 and 72.9% ± 5.8% (p = 0.998), respectively. Human milk output was 833.7 ± 152.1 g/d in SAM group and 827.4 ± 171.4 g/d in the control group (p = 0.864). CONCLUSIONS: We found no significant difference in human milk output and body composition in mothers treated for SAM during childhood compared to community controls.

Atypical respiratory distress in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Predictions have been made that Africa would be the most vulnerable continent to the novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Interestingly, the spread of the disease in Africa seems to have been delayed and initially slower than in many parts of the world. Here we report on two cases of respiratory distress in our region before the official declaration of the disease in December 2019, cases which in the present times would be suspect of COVID-19. CASE PRESENTATION: These two cases (one 55-year-old man and one 25-year-old woman) of acute respiratory distress secondary to atypical pneumonia were seen in Bukavu, in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), between September and December 2019. One patient had returned from China and the other had close contacts with travellers from China in the 2 weeks prior to the onset of symptoms. In either case, the aetiology could not be accurately determined. However, the two cases presented a clinical picture (progressive dyspnoea, preceded by dry cough and fever) and laboratory changes (procalcitonin within the normal range, slight inflammation, and lymphopenia) compatible with a viral infection. The chest X-ray series of the first patient showed lesions (reticulations, ground glass, and nodules ≤6 mm) similar to those currently found in COVID-19 patients. In addition, unlike the 25-year-old female patient who had no comorbidity, the 55-year-old male patient who had hypertension as comorbidity, developed a more severe acute respiratory distress which progressed to death. CONCLUSION: These cases bring to the attention the fact that COVID-19-like syndromes may have already been present in the region months before the official beginning of the pandemic. This also brings to question whether a prior presence of the disease or infections with related virus may account for the delayed and less extensive development of the pandemic in the region.