The aim of this study was to describe the pattern of spinal cord injuries, MRI signal patterns and neurological impairment among spinal cord injury patients in Lagos, Nigeria. A retrospective study of the hospital records and MRI reports of 90 spinal cord injury patients at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital was conducted. The study included patients who presented at the hospital with spinal cord injury between 2006 and 2012. Results showed young to middle-aged male gender and cervical spinal cord injury preponderances. The dominant etiological factor was road traffic accident (60%, n = 54). In ASIA A class, 22.2% (n = 20) had intramedullary cord hemorrhage only while 31.1% (n = 28) had a combination of intramedullary cord hemorrhage and edema. For ASIA B, 6.7% (n = 6) had intramedullary cord hemorrhage only, 13.3% (n = 12) had cord edema only and 2.2% (n = 2) had a combination of intramedullary cord hemorrhage and edema. ASIA C consisted of 8.9% (n = 8) patients who had cord edema only. ASIA D and E categories also consisted of 11.1% (n = 10) and 4.4% (n = 4) patients respectively who had cord edema only. The relationship between pre-treatment classification, MRI findings and neurological status at the end of treatment was of prognostic value in neurological outcome of the patients. In conclusion this study has revealed the pattern of spinal cord injury lesions at MRI in the locality. The dominant lesions were hemorrhage and a combination of hemorrhage and edema. This lesion pattern showed direct relationship with ASIA classification scale for neurological impairment and thus was useful for prognostication of the injuries.
Background: Accuracy of some ultrasound equations used in our locality for fetal weight estimation is doubtful.Objective: To assess the accuracy of common ultrasound equations used for fetal weight estimation.Subjects and Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted on selected Nigerian obstetric population at Central Hospital, Kwale between March, 2009 and January, 2011. Sonography was performed on 412 women with advanced singleton cyesis and measurements of BPD, HC, AC, and FL were obtained and figured into 12 common ultrasound equations for the estimation of fetal weight. The actual birth weight at delivery was recorded.Results: The highest intraclass correlation coefficient was generated by the Hadlock 5 and Hsieh 2 equations. The least mean absolute percent error was obtained with Hsieh 2 equation, followed by Woo 3, and Hadlock 5. These equations also had the least percentage error and the least range of limits of agreement in the same order with no significant difference between their mean fetal weight estimates and that of the actual birth weight (p > 0.05). All twelve equations had strong positive correlation with the actual birth weight with Nzeh 2 equation the least.Conclusion: Hsieh 2 equation has the best accuracy in fetal weight estimation studied.Key Words: Validation; Fetal Weight; Sonography; Advanced Cyesis; Nigerian Population
Normative value of spleen size among school age children is important for objective assessment of the spleen.This study was aimed at determining sonographically the normal limits of the spleen size according to age, sex, and somatometric parameters among school age children.A cross sectional study was done on 947 apparently healthy subjects (496 boys and 451 girls) aged 6 - 17 years. The subjects were recruited from some primary and secondary schools within Nsukka metropolis and also from out patients in the study centre. A pilot study was done to determine the intra- and inter rater reliability of sonographic measurements of the spleen. The sonographic examination was performed on Shenzhen DP-1100 machine with 3.5 and 5 MHz convex transducers. Spleen sizes were obtained with the subject in a right lateral decubitus position.Measurement of spleen length was reliable while measurement of spleen width was less reliable within and between sonographers. Dimensions of the spleen were not statistically different in boys and girls (p > 0.05). Height correlated best with spleen dimensions.Normogram of the spleen size with respect to height is important in the determination of some pathology associated with changes in its size.
Purpose : To investigate the factors that contribute to the challenges of training and clinical skill acquisition in undergraduate radiography education in southeastern Nigeria.
Methods : A cross-sectional prospective study, which targeted radiography undergraduates in the clinical classes in two universities in southeastern Nigeria, was conducted. A 23-item self-completion questionnaire, designed in line with the objectives of the study, was used for data collection.
Results : The majority of the factors identified were strongly rated to contribute to the challenges of training except for unavailability of published programme curriculum. Multinomial logistic regression showed that the age of the students did not influence the rating of factors (p>0.05). Gender influenced the rating of high academic workload and tight scheduling of lectures and published programme curriculum is not interest-stimulating enough (p=0.008). The factor's rating by the males was higher than the females (3.23 ± 0.91 vs 3.00 ± 0.86. The institutions, where the students are domiciled, influenced their ratings of congested and not conducive classrooms (p<0.0001), and shortage of ICT facilities and e-learning packages (p=0.009). The students' level of study influenced the rating of 7 of the 18 factors investigated.
Conclusion : The challenges facing training and clinical skill acquisition of radiographers in southeastern Nigeria have been highlighted in this study. The challenges identified include inadequate infrastructure, difficult logistics, inadequate teaching aids, negative attitudes of trainers, and poor training methods.
This study aimed to establish ultrasonic splenic dimensions which can be used as normogram for adult Nigerians. 250 adult subjects were scanned prospectively using a 3.5MHZ ultrasound sector probe. The splenic length, width and thickness were obtained in the supine position and the
Purpose: To investigate the factors that contribute to the challenges of training and clinical skill acquisition in undergraduate radiography education in southeastern Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional prospective study, which targeted radiography undergraduates in the clinical classes in two universities in southeastern Nigeria, was conducted. A 23-item self-completion questionnaire, designed in line with the objectives of the study, was used for data collection. Results: The majority of the factors identified were strongly rated to contribute to the challenges of training except for unavailability of published programme curriculum. Multinomial logistic regression showed that the age of the students did not influence the rating of factors (p>0.05). Gender influenced the rating of high academic workload and tight scheduling of lectures and published programme curriculum is not interest-stimulating enough (p=0.008). The factor's rating by the males was higher than the females (3.23 ± 0.91 vs 3.00 ± 0.86. The institutions, where the students are domiciled, influenced their ratings of congested and not conducive classrooms (p<0.0001), and shortage of ICT facilities and e-learning packages (p=0.009). The students’ level of study influenced the rating of 7 of the 18 factors investigated. Conclusion: The challenges facing training and clinical skill acquisition of radiographers in southeastern Nigeria have been highlighted in this study. The challenges identified include inadequate infrastructure, difficult logistics, inadequate teaching aids, negative attitudes of trainers, and poor training methods.
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between placental thickness and estimated fetal weight in normal pregnant Nigerian women. Six hundred and fortyfive Nigerian women with singleton pregnancies in the second and third trimesters were studied by transabdominal ultrasound. Fetal weight was estimated by measurement of biparietal diameter (BPD) and abdominal circumference (AC). Gestational age was estimated by measuring the BPD and fetal femur length (FL). Placental thickness was measured in a longitudinal section at the point of insertion of the umbilical cord. Results showed that both placental thickness and estimated fetal weight increased in fairly linear manner with gestational age. There were significant positive correlations between placental thickness and estimated fetal weight in the second and third trimesters (p< 0.05). Regression analysis yielded linear mathematical relationships between estimated fetal weight and placental thickness in the second and third trimesters, but the marked variations in fetal weights corresponding to particular placental thickness limit the usefulness of this relationship.
Biomechanical and psychosocial stresses are capable of destabilizing any health care professional. The current health sector reform in Nigeria, which lays emphasis on service delivery on a background of very few radiographers, may lead to an increase in stress level. This study investigated the incidence of occupational stress among radiographers in southeastern Nigeria. 50 self-completion questionnaires were delivered to radiographers in the southeastern Nigeria. The questionnaires included questions seeking information on the demographic profile of the radiographer, anatomical regions of biomechanical systems/stress and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), which rated job satisfaction and anxiety levels. 32 questionnaires were returned and analyzed statistically. Biomechanical stress was observed in all anatomical regions studied. Job satisfaction rating was 61.3% and anxiety level was 45.3%. This study has provided a baseline stress level and prevalence among radiographers with which future studies in view of the on going health sector reform in Nigeria could be compared.
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