Incidence of Nerve Palsies During Pavlik Harness Treatment for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The Pavlik harness has been used for approximately a century to treat developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). Femoral nerve palsy is a documented complication of Pavlik harness use, with an incidence ranging from 2.5% to 11.2%. Rare reports of brachial plexus palsy have also been documented. The primary purpose of the current study was to evaluate the incidence of various nerve palsies in patients undergoing Pavlik harness treatment for DDH. Secondary aims were to identify patient demographic or hip characteristics associated with nerve palsy. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with DDH and treated with a Pavlik harness from February 1, 2016, to April 1, 2023, at a single tertiary care orthopaedic hospital. Hip laterality, use of a subsequent rigid abduction orthosis, birth order, breech positioning, weight, and family history were collected. The median (and interquartile range [IQR]) or mean (and standard deviation [SD]) were reported for all continuous variables. Independent 2-sample t tests and Mann-Whitney U tests were conducted to identify associations between the variables collected at the initiation of Pavlik harness treatment and the occurrence of nerve palsy. RESULTS: Three hundred and fifty-one patients (547 hips) were included. Twenty-two cases of femoral nerve palsy (4% of all treated hips), 1 case of inferior gluteal nerve palsy (0.18%), and 2 cases of brachial plexus palsy (0.37%) were diagnosed. Patients with nerve palsy had more severe DDH as measured by the Graf classification (p < 0.001) and more severe DDH as measured on physical examination via the Barlow and Ortolani maneuvers (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Nerve palsies were associated with more severe DDH at the initiation of Pavlik harness use. Upper and lower-extremity neurological status should be scrutinized at initiation and throughout treatment to assess for nerve palsies. The potential for femoral, gluteal, and brachial plexus palsies should be included in the discussion of risks at the beginning of treatment. Families may be reassured that nerve palsies associated with Pavlik harness can be expected to resolve with a short break from treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Non-polio enteroviruses circulation in acute flaccid paralysis cases and sewage in Senegal from 2013 to 2021.

OBJECTIVES: Several factors can cause acute flaccid paralysis cases including non-polio enteroviruses. In Senegal, few studies on non-polio enteroviruses (NPEV) have been performed. METHODS: Our study assess the molecular epidemiology of non-polio enteroviruses in Senegal from 2013 to 2021 through the previously existing programs for surveillance of polioviruses. RESULTS: A total of 3815 stool samples and 281 sewage samples were collected. After virus isolation by cell culture, non-polio enteroviruses-positive isolates were confirmed by reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Following this detection, the positive samples were subjected to molecular characterization. Our data showed that 15.22% and 52.66% were positive in cell culture for non-polio enteroviruses in acute flaccid paralysis surveillance and environmental surveillance, respectively. These non-polio enteroviruses-positive isolates were detected all year round but tend to unequal peaks of circulation, and the age group 0-5 years was more vulnerable to infection (84.4%). Genetic characterization revealed the circulation of enteroviruses species infecting humans (Enterovirus A - Enterovirus D): Enterovirus A (29.2%) and Enterovirus B (63.1%) isolates from both the acute flaccid paralysis surveillance and environmental surveillance while Enterovirus C (5.3%) and Enterovirus D (2.4%) were only isolated from the acute flaccid paralysis surveillance. However, the highly prevalent Enterovirus B species from the acute flaccid paralysis surveillance included echovirus 7 and echovirus 13, whereas coxsackievirus A6 was the predominant species from the environmental surveillance. CONCLUSION: This first 8-year period study of NPEV in Senegal showed that NPEV represent important viral etiologies associated with acute flaccid paralysis cases and circulating in environmental surveillance in Senegal and highlighted the need to promote effective long-term strategies for monitoring of non-polio enteroviruses infections.

Evaluation of the Acute flaccid paralysis surveillance indicators in Zambia from 2015-2021: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: The resurgence of poliovirus infection in previously polio free regions and countries calls for renewed commitment to the global polio eradication efforts including strengthening of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance systems. Zambia is one of the countries substantially at risk for the importation of poliovirus infection from neighbouring countries including Malawi, Mozambique, and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This study describes a seven-year AFP surveillance, assesses the surveillance indicators, and highlights areas for improvement. METHODS: We conducted retrospective analysis of the routinely collected AFP surveillance data from January 2015 to December 2022. The AFP surveillance indicators performance was assessed using the World Health Organisation's recommended minimum AFP surveillance indicators performance. RESULTS: Cumulatively, a total of 1715 AFP cases were reported over the study period. More than half, 891 (52%) of reported cases were aged < 5 years with 917 (53.5%) of males. More than half, 1186 (69.2%) had fever at onset, 718 (41.9%) had asymmetric paralysis and 1164 (67.9%) had their paralysis progressed within 3 days of onset. The non-polio AFP rate ranges from 3.4 to 6.4 per 100,000 children < 15 years old and stool adequacy ranging from 70.9% to 90.2% indicating sensitive surveillance with late detection of cases. The percentage of cases with early stool collection, timely transportation was above the World Health Organisation (WHO) minimum of 80% but with declining proportion of stools arriving in the laboratory in optimal condition. Completeness of 60-days follow-up evaluation was suboptimal ranging from 0.9% to 28.2%. CONCLUSION: The AFP surveillance system in Zambia is doing well. However, additional efforts are needed to improve early detection of cases; stool sample collection, transportation and monitoring to ensure arrival in good condition in the laboratory; and improve 60-days follow-up evaluation for evidenced-based classification of inadequate AFP cases and proper care.

Evaluation of acute flaccid paralysis surveillance performance before and during the 2014-2015 Ebola virus disease outbreak in Guinea and Liberia.

Introduction: the number of wild poliomyelitis cases, worldwide, dropped from 350,000 cases in 1988 to 33 in 2018. Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance is a key strategy toward achieving global polio eradication. The 2014 Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic in West Africa infected over 28,000 people and had devastating effects on health systems in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. We sought to assess the effects of the 2014 Ebola outbreak on AFP surveillance in Guinea and Liberia. Methods: a retrospective cross-sectional analysis was performed for Guinea and Liberia to evaluate EVD´s impact on World Health Organization (WHO) AFP surveillance performance indicators during 2012-2015. Results: both Guinea and Liberia met the WHO target non-polio AFP incidence rate nationally, and generally sub-nationally, prior to the EVD outbreak; rates decreased substantially during the outbreak in seven of eight regions in Guinea and 11 of 15 counties in Liberia. Throughout the study period, both Guinea and Liberia attained appropriate overall targets nationally for "notification" and "stool adequacy" indicators, but each country experienced periods of poor regional/county-specific indicator performance. Conclusion: these findings mirrored the negative effect of the Ebola outbreak on polio elimination activities in both countries and highlights the need to reinforce this surveillance system during times of crisis.

Does hinge sidedness influence laterality of C5 palsy after expansile open-door cervical laminoplasty?

OBJECTIVE: Cervical expansile open-door laminoplasties (EOLPs) have an open side and a hinge side, with the open side being bridged by grafts or miniplates. The authors explored the possibility that the open-door side might have a greater incidence of C5 palsy due to a greater stretch of the ipsilateral C5 nerve root. METHODS: This study was a retrospective review of prospectively collected data over a period of 25 years specifically assessing surgical complications. Included were patients who underwent EOLP for myelopathy, radiculopathy, or mild central cord injuries (American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale [AIS] grade D). Exclusion criteria included preexisting C5 weakness; patients with AIS grade A, B, or C injury; and added instrumentation or additional surgical procedures. Patients were monitored postoperatively for C5 palsy or any other complications. A comparison group included patients who underwent cervical laminectomy and fusion (CLF). RESULTS: A total of 327 laminoplasties were collected, and 31 patients were excluded because of severe spinal cord injury (AIS grades A-C), 3 for preoperative C5 weakness, and 21 for instrumentation or additional surgical procedures. Thus, 272 patients were analyzed with a mean age of 59.9 years (range 22-88 years). Diagnoses at presentation were cervical myelopathy (84.1%), central cord syndrome (7.2%), cervical myeloradiculopathy (3.4%), ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (1.9%), and other (3.4%). The most common complications were C5 palsy (n = 7, 2.6%) and wound infection (n = 7, 2.6%). Of the 7 cases of postoperative C5 palsies in this study, 6 occurred on the side of the open door. Of the C5 palsies, 2 were mild, 3 were moderate, and 2 were severe. Two of the 7 C5 palsies had a delayed (> 24 hours) onset. The C5 palsy incidence after CLF was 2.7% with no side preference. CONCLUSIONS: C5 palsy after cervical decompression for myelopathy is a known occurrence, with a rate of 2.6% in the current study. The authors found that C5 palsies more commonly occur on the open side of the laminoplasty. This could be due to a greater manipulation of the nerve root on the side of the open door or greater stretch of the C5 root on the open-door side. If clinical symptoms and anatomical stenosis are symmetric, the authors recommend creating the laminoplasty hinge on the patient's dominant side to minimize potential loss of dominant proximal arm function.

Emerging trends and insights in acute flaccid myelitis: a comprehensive review of neurologic manifestations.

Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) is a neurological condition in the anterior portion of the spinal cord and can be characterised as paraplegia (paralysis of the lower limbs), and cranial nerve dysfunction. These lesions are caused by the infection due to Enterovirus 68 (EV-D68); a member of the Enterovirus (EV) family belongs to the Enterovirus species within the Picornavirus family and a Polio-like virus. In many cases, the facial, axial, bulbar, respiratory, and extraocular muscles were affected, hence reducing the overall quality of the patient's life. Moreover, severe pathological conditions demand hospitalisation and can cause mortality in a few cases. The data from previous case studies and literature suggest that the prevalence is high in paediatric patients, but careful clinical assessment and management can decrease the risk of mortality and paraplegia. Moreover, the clinical and laboratory diagnosis can be performed by Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spinal cord followed by Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) and VP1 seminested PCR assay of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), stool, and serum samples can reveal the disease condition to an extent. The primary measure to control the outbreak is social distancing as advised by public health administrations, but more effective ways are yet to discover. Nonetheless, vaccines in the form of the whole virus, live attenuated, sub-viral particles, and DNA vaccines can be an excellent choice to treat these conditions. The review discusses a variety of topics, such as epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis/clinical features, hospitalisation/mortality, management/treatment, and potential future developments.

Characteristics of Postoperative C5 Palsy Following Anterior Decompression and Fusion Surgery for Cervical Degenerative Disorders: Trends Associated with Advancements in Surgical Technique.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate trends in the characteristics of postoperative C5 palsy following anterior decompression and fusion associated with advancements in this surgical procedure to treat cervical degenerative disorders. METHODS: We included 801 consecutive patients who underwent anterior decompression and fusion for cervical degenerative disorders from 2006 to 2019 and investigated the incidence, onset, and prognosis of C5 palsy. In addition, we compared the incidence of C5 palsy with that found in our previous investigation. RESULTS: The cases of 42 (5.2%) patients were complicated by C5 palsy. For patients with ossification of the longitudinal ligament (OPLL), 22 (12.4%) of 177 were complicated with C5 palsy, and the incidence was significantly higher than that in patients without OPLL (20 [3.2%] of 624, P < 0.01). The incidence of C5 palsy in patients without OPLL was significantly lower than that found in our previous investigation (P < 0.01). The incidence of C5 palsy in patients that required contiguous multilevel corpectomy was significantly higher in patients that required within a single corpectomy (P < 0.01). At 1-year follow-up, muscle strength in 3 (6.1%) of 49 limbs had not improved sufficiently. CONCLUSIONS: With advancements in surgical techniques which allowed necessary and sufficient spinal cord decompression and avoided unnecessary corpectomy, the incidence of C5 palsy in patients without OPLL was decreased significantly. By contrast, for patients with OPLL, the incidence of C5 palsy was similar to the incidence found previously, perhaps because a broad and contiguous multilevel corpectomy was usually needed to decompress the spinal cord sufficiently.

Motor Nerve Palsy After Direct Anterior Versus Posterior Total Hip Arthroplasty: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Recovery.

BACKGROUND: There is limited literature on motor nerve palsy in modern total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of this study was to establish the incidence of nerve palsy following THA using the direct anterior (DA) and postero-lateral (PL) approaches, identify risk factors, and describe the extent of recovery. METHODS: Using our institutional database, we examined 10,047 primary THAs performed between 2009 and 2021 using the DA (6,592; 65.6%) or PL (3,455; 34.4%) approach. Postoperative femoral (FNP) and sciatic/peroneal nerve palsies (PNP) were identified. Incidence and time to recovery was calculated, and association between surgical and patient risk factors and nerve palsy were evaluated using Chi-square tests. RESULTS: The overall rate of nerve palsy was 0.34% (34/10,047) and was lower with the DA approach (0.24%) than the PL approach (0.52%), P = .02. The rate of FNPs in the DA group (0.20%) was 4.3 times more than the rate of PNPs (0.05%), while in the PL group the rate of PNPs (0.46%) was 8 times more than that of FNPs (0.06%). Higher rates of nerve palsy were observed with women, shorter patients, and nonosteoarthritis preoperative diagnoses. Full recovery of motor strength occurred in 60% of cases with FNP and 58% of cases with PNP. CONCLUSION: Nerve palsy is rare after contemporary THA through the PL and DA approaches. The PL approach was associated with a higher rate of PNP, whereas the DA approach was associated with a higher rate of FNP. Femoral and sciatic/peroneal palsies had similar rates of complete recovery.

Environmental surveillance detects circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 that was undetected by acute flaccid paralysis surveillance in 2021 in Uganda.

The success of the global polio eradication initiative is threatened by the genetic instability of the oral polio vaccine, which can result in the emergence of pathogenic vaccine-derived polioviruses following prolonged replication in the guts of individuals with primary immune deficiencies or in communities with low vaccination coverage. Through environmental surveillance, circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 was detected in Uganda in the absence of detection by acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance. This underscores the sensitivity of environmental surveillance and emphasizes its usefulness in supplementing AFP surveillance for poliovirus infections in the race towards global polio eradication.

Environmental surveillance detected type 3 vaccine-derived polioviruses in increasing frequency at multiple sites prior to detection of a poliomyelitis case.

Israel conducts routine environmental (15 sites) and acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance for poliovirus. During September 2021, increasing numbers of wastewater samples collected from more than one site in the Jerusalem region proved positive for ambiguous type 3 vaccine-derived poliovirus (aVDPV3), while environmental samples from remaining sampling sites were negative. In late February 2022, a VDPV3, genetically related to the Jerusalem environmental surveillance samples, was isolated from a stool sample collected from a non-immunodeficient, non-immunized child from Jerusalem who developed AFP, indicating that the aVDPV3s were circulating (cVDPV3s) rather than immunodeficiency-related VDPV3s (iVDPVs). In response to these isolations, the Israel Ministry of Health launched a catch-up immunization program.

Evaluation of acute flaccid paralysis surveillance system in the River Nile State - Northern Sudan, 2021.

BACKGROUND: One of the four main elements of the worldwide polio eradication strategy is acute flaccid paralysis surveillance (AFP). This system is based on (acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases reported and tested at World Health Organization (WHO) accredited laboratories. To measure and monitor performance, indicators were created. The current study aims to evaluate the system components, performance, and efficiency in River Nile State, Northern Sudan, and their compliance with World Health Organization (WHO) requirements for it to be adopted as a good system; its results can be used to certify whether a country is polio-free or not. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A facility-based retrospective descriptive study was conducted in the River Nile State, Northern Sudan, from Jan 2017 to Dec 2020. This study included all reporting sites/units, workers who reported acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases, and officers at the locality level. A total of 50 health institutions were visited for surveillance, and interviews with 59 health workers who were part of the AFP surveillance system were undertaken. The data were collected from participants using a pre-tested questionnaire designed and constructed by the World Health Organization (WHO) framework, and the data were analyzed using the SPSS version (22). RESULTS: The River Nile State's AFP surveillance system was of high quality in terms of the infrastructure that had been put in place and the effectiveness of the system's operations, as evidenced by the following statistics: from 2017 to 2020, the reported non-polio acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases were at a mean rate of 4.02 per 100,000 children under the age of 15; the majority of AFP reported cases were under 10 years; and males made up 73.3% of reported cases; The completeness of reports and surveillance documents exceeded 80%, and active surveillance was applied in 80% of reporting sites. CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that the surveillance system is capable of detecting cases, Sudan continues to report cases of imported polio from other countries, highlighting the need to strengthen surveillance systems and eradication efforts in these countries.

Recall of Awareness During Paralysis Among ED Patients Undergoing Tracheal Intubation.

BACKGROUND: Critically ill patients sometimes remember periods of neuromuscular blockade. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the prevalence of recalled awareness during paralysis in patients who underwent emergency tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation, and what clinical variables are associated with this outcome? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This study analyzed data from a prospectively collected continuous quality improvement database of emergency tracheal intubation in an urban, county hospital. Patients who received a neuromuscular blocking agent to facilitate emergency tracheal intubation in the ED were included. The database contained details of intubation management, including medications received and patient mental status prior to intubation. Patient recall of awareness of paralysis was assessed by trained staff during an in-person interview following extubation using a modified Brice questionnaire. For this analysis, three expert reviewers used these data to adjudicate whether patients may have had awareness of paralysis, the primary outcome. A logistic regression model was constructed to determine whether clinical variables were associated with the primary outcome. RESULTS: A total of 886 patients were analyzed. There were 66 patients (7.4%; 95% CI, 5.8-9.4) determined to possibly (61 patients) or definitely (5 patients) have experienced and recalled awareness of paralysis. A logistic regression model revealed that a decreased level of consciousness prior to intubation was associated with lower odds of awareness (adjusted OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.22-0.69), whereas the class of neuromuscular blocking agent used, sedative used, preintubation shock index, and postintubation sedation were not significantly associated with recall of this outcome. INTERPRETATION: Among patients intubated emergently using a neuromuscular blocking agent, 7.4% of patients recalled awareness without being able to move, which was more likely when patients had a normal level of consciousness prior to intubation.

The standardized exploration of the radial nerve during humeral shaft fixation reduces the incidence of iatrogenic palsy.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to determine if a standardized protocol for radial nerve handling during humeral shaft repair reduces the incidence of iatrogenic nerve palsy post operatively. METHODS: Seventy-three patients were identified who underwent acute or reconstructive humeral shaft repair with radial nerve exploration as part of the primary procedure for either humeral shaft fracture or nonunion. All patients exhibited intact radial nerve function pre-operatively. A retrospective chart review and analysis identified patients who developed a secondary radial nerve palsy post-operatively. In each case, the radial nerve was identified and mobilized for protection, regardless of whether the implant necessitated the extensile exposure. RESULTS: Fractures were classified according to AO/OTA guidelines and included 23 Type 12A, 11 Type 12B, and 3 Type 12C. Eight patients had periprosthetic fractures and 28 fractures could not be classified. All patients in the cohort were fixed with locking plates. Surgery was indicated for 36 patients with humeral nonunions and 37 patients with acute humeral shaft fractures. Of the 73 patients, 2 (2.7%) developed radial nerve palsy following surgery, one from the posterior approach and one from the anterolateral approach. Both patients exhibited complete recovery of radial nerve function by 6-month follow-up. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found in any demographic or surgical details between those with and without radial nerve injury. CONCLUSIONS: Nerve exploration identification and protection leads to a low incidence of transient radial nerve palsy compared to the rate reported in the current literature (2.7% compared to 6-24%). Thus, radial nerve exploration and mobilization should be considered when approaching the humeral shaft for acute fracture and nonunion repairs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Preoperatively, Which Parameter Allows Us to Predict the C5 Palsy After Cervical Open-Door Laminoplasty?

AIM: To uncover factors that can predict the development of C5 palsy before surgery by evaluating several different parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 177 patients who underwent surgery between 2015 and 2020 were included in the study. In total, C5 palsy was observed in 22 (12.4%) of our patients. The radiological and clinical data of the patients were retrospectively analyzed and added to the data. RESULTS: A total of 177 patients who satisfied the criteria were included in the study, among whom 117 (66.1%) and 60 (33.9%) were male and female, respectively. Patients with ossified posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) (92; 52.0%) needed surgery the most. C5 palsy developed in 16/92 (17.3%) patients who had surgery for OPLL. This result was statistically significant (p < 0.001). However, a significant difference in the postoperative Pavlov ratio was noted between both groups (p=0.027). The foraminal dimensions for the C5 palsy group were significantly lower than those for the non-C5 palsy group. CONCLUSION: Smaller C5 root foramina diameter measurements were the most important predictive factor for the development of C5 palsy after open-door cervical laminoplasty. Although the pathophysiology remains to be fully understood, ischemia-reperfusion injury supposedly plays a role therein.

Acute Flaccid Paralysis in Australian Children from 2007 to 2017.

INTRODUCTION: Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance continues globally as part of the World Health Organization's goal to eradicate poliomyelitis. The Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit (APSU), Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance (PAEDS) network, and National Enterovirus Reference Laboratory (NERL) collaborate in AFP surveillance in Australia, capturing and reviewing cases of AFP for all aetiologies in order to exclude poliovirus. We aimed to describe the AFP epidemiology in childhood over an 11 year period. METHODS: Data were reported nationally by paediatricians via prospective APSU surveillance, PAEDS surveillance nurses at five tertiary paediatric hospitals and NERL from 2007 to 2017. Children aged 0-15 years with AFP were included. We combined APSU, PAEDS, and NERL datasets, analysed epidemiological trends, and described clinical features and investigations for major diagnoses. RESULTS: Of 590 AFP-compatible cases, 49% were male; 47% were aged 0-4 years, 9% aged <1 year. Annual incidence of AFP was 1.3 cases per 100,000 children aged <15 years. Lower limb paralysis was the most frequent presenting symptom. The most frequent diagnoses were Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS; 36%), transverse myelitis (TM; 17%), and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM; 15%). No secular trend was seen in frequency of AFP cases nor amongst major diagnoses. Seasonality was observed with ADEM occurring more frequently in winter. We observed periods of increased AFP frequency in 2013 and 2016, coinciding with increased reporting of non-polio anterior horn cell disease (AHCD) and detection of non-polio enterovirus (NPEV). CONCLUSIONS: Estimated incidence of GBS, ADEM, and TM in Australian children was comparable with international rates. There was stable incidence of AFP in Australian children between 2007 and 2017. GBS, ADEM, and TM are the major causes of AFP. We observed clustering of cases associated with NPEV that emphasises a need for ongoing vigilance in surveillance given continue emerging infectious disease threats.

Innovative strategies developed to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on polio surveillance in Nigeria, 2020.

Introduction: following the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic to Nigeria, the Federal Government of Nigeria restricted human and vehicular movements to curb the spread of the disease. This action had a negative impact on Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance, with a resultant reduction in the number of AFP cases reported. This paper describes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on poliovirus surveillance in Nigeria and the proactive interventions by Nigeria´s polio program to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on polio surveillance. Methods: nine innovative strategies were implemented in all 774 Local Government Areas (LGA) of the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of the country. These strategies were developed by the national surveillance officers and operationalized by sub-national surveillance officers with different strategies starting at different epidemiological weeks from week 14 to 23, 2020. Many of the strategy innovations were technology-based and included: the use of mobile phones to send the AFP case definition and video by WhatsApp or by SMS, the use of state-specific toll-free numbers and Mobile Telephone Network (MTN) (mobile service provider) CallerfeelTM to community informants (CI) who were the main targets of the interventions to increase case detection and reporting. Others included the use of abridged e-surveillance integrated supportive supervision (ISS) checklists, virtual monthly DSNO meetings, and batched AFP stool specimen transportation network. Results: compared to the same period in 2019, the cumulative rate of AFP case detection and reporting had gradually declined from 39.1% in January to 16.7% before the commencement of the interventions in week 20, 2020. However, the detection and reporting increased by 57.% from week 20 to week 47 compared to the same period in 2019. This is because with COVID-19, hospital visitation dropped, and the sick remained in the communities, so the CI network was relied on to detect and report AFP cases. The cumulative proportion of AFP cases reported by community informants as of week 47 increased from 13% in 2018 to 21% in 2020. This indicates an increase of 38%. Thirty-five AFP cases were detected and reported using the MTN Caller Feel strategy, while 15 cases were reported through state-specific toll-free numbers. Conclusion: the implementation of the innovative strategies was able to mitigate the low AFP case detection and reporting observed at the initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of technology facilitated reaching the CI network, which was more instrumental in detecting and reporting the cases.

Experience and findings from surveillance peer review in Nigeria, August 2017-May 2019.

Introduction: acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance is the gold standard of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) for detecting cases of poliomyelitis and tracking poliovirus transmission. Nigeria's AFP surveillance performance indicators are among the highest in countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region. The primary AFP surveillance performance indicators are the rate of non-polio AFP among children and the proportion of timely, adequate specimen collection. The surveillance working group of the National Emergency Operations Centre assessed the quality of AFP surveillance data in some reportedly high-performing states. Methods: we conducted a retrospective review of AFP surveillance performance indicators in Nigeria for 2010-2019. We also reviewed data in reports from four groups of surveillance peer reviews and validation visits (conducted by in-country GPEI partners) during August 2017-May 2019 in 16 states with high primary AFP surveillance indicators; the validation visits reviewed clinical information and the dates of specimen collection and onset of paralysis with caretakers. Results: there were consistently increasing AFP surveillance primary performance indicators during 2010-2016, followed by declines during 2017-2019. From the data for 16 states with peer reviews conducted from August 2017-May 2019, overall concordance of reported and "true" (validated) AFP indicator data in peer review investigations was highly variable. True AFP concordance ranged from 58%-100%, and stool timeliness concordance ranged from 56%-95%. The most common clinical causes of reported AFP cases that were not true AFP were spastic paralysis, malaria, sickle cell disease, and malnutrition. All the states that participated in peer reviews developed surveillance improvement plans based on the gaps identified. Conclusion: Nigeria has highly sensitive AFP surveillance according to reported primary AFP performance indicators. The findings of peer reviews indicate that the AFP surveillance system needs to be strengthened and well-supervised to enhance data quality.