Al Akinyoola

Characterization of Colonizing Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Surgical Wards' Patients in a Nigerian University Hospital

In contrast to developed countries, only limited data on the prevalence, resistance and clonal structure of Staphylococcus aureus are available for African countries. Since S. aureus carriage is a risk factor for postoperative wound infection, patients who had been hospitalized in surgical wards in a Nigerian University Teaching Hospital were screened for S. aureus carriage. All S. aureus isolates were genotyped (spa, agr) and assigned to multilocus sequence types (MLST). Species affiliation, methicillin-resistance, and the possession of pyrogenic toxin superantigens (PTSAg), exfoliative toxins (ETs) and Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) were analyzed. Of 192 patients screened, the S. aureus carrier rate was 31.8 % (n = 61). Of these isolates, 7 (11.5%) were methicillin-resistant (MRSA). The isolates comprised 24 spa types. The most frequent spa types were t064, t084, t311, and t1931, while the most prevalent MLST clonal complexes were CC5 and CC15. The most frequent PTSAg genes detected were seg/sei (41.0%) followed by seb (29.5%), sea (19.7%), seh (14.7%) and sec (11.5). The difference between the possession of classical and newly described PTSAg genes was not significant (63.9% versus 59.0% respectively; P = 0.602). PVL encoding genes were found in 39.3% isolates. All MRSA isolates were PVL negative, SCCmec types I and VI in MLST CC 5 and CC 30, respectively. Typing of the accessory gene regulator (agr) showed the following distribution: agr group 1 (n = 20), group II (n = 17), group III (n = 14) and group IV (n = 10). Compared to European data, enterotoxin gene seb and PVL-encoding genes were more prevalent in Nigerian methicillin-susceptible S. aureus isolates, which may therefore act as potential reservoir for PVL and PTSAg genes.

Timing of antibiotic prophylaxis in tourniquet surgery.

It is customary to administer prophylactic antibiotics before exsanguination of the limb and inflation of a tourniquet in extremity surgery. To compare the clinical outcome in lower limb operations when prophylactic antibiotics were administered before versus after limb exsanguination and tourniquet inflation, we randomized patients to the administration of prophylactic antibiotics 5 minutes before exsanguination and inflation of the tourniquet (ABT) and administration of prophylactic antibiotics 1 minute after inflation of the tourniquet (AAT). A total of 106 patients completed the study, including 76 males (71.7%) and 30 females (28.3%). Of the 106 patients, 54 (50.9%) received antibiotics before tourniquet inflation (ABT) and 52 (49.1%) after tourniquet inflation (AAT). Most of the operations (71.7%) involved open reduction and internal fixation of fractures. In the ABT group, 8 wounds (14.8%) developed postoperative infection. In the AAT group, 2 (3.9%) developed wound infection (P = .031). The mean period to wound healing in the ABT group was 4.0 ± 2.3 weeks and was 3.0 ± 0.5 weeks in the AAT group (P = .002). Overall, 100% of the patients in the AAT group were satisfied compared with 85.2% in the ABT group. The difference was statistically significant (P = .005). The results of our study suggest that administration of prophylactic antibiotics before exsanguination and inflation of a lower extremity tourniquet does not give better results than administration of the antibiotic shortly after inflation of the tourniquet.

Outcome of non-operative management of femoral shaft fractures in children

BACKGROUND Femoral shaft fractures are common injuries in childhood. There is paucity of information on their presentation and outcome of the available treatment methods in the African population. This study evaluated the outcome of non-operative methods of treatment of femoral shaft fractures in our centre. PATIENTS AND METHODS A retrospective review of the database of children aged 14 years and below with femoral shaft fractures treated non-operatively over a 10-year period. RESULTS A total of 134 patients with 138 fractures met the study criteria. This consisted of 71 boys (mean age = 6.1 years ± SD) and 63 girls (mean age = 6.5 years ± SD). Pedestrian vehicular accident was the most common cause of femoral shaft fractures in the study population. The midshaft was the most common site of fractures. There were associated injuries to other parts of the body (especially head injury) in 34.3% of the patients. The commonest mode of treatment was skin traction only (87.7%). The mean time to fracture union was 4.9 weeks ± SD (range = 3-15 weeks). The mean length of hospitalisation was 6.7 weeks ± SD (range = 5 days-11 weeks). There was a fairly strong positive correlation between the length of hospitalisation and the presence of associated injuries, especially head injury, upper limb fractures and bilaterality of the fractures. The mean total cost of treatment was #7685 (Naira) or

Psychological reactions to amputation in a sample of Nigerian amputees

51.2 (range =

Comparison of serum and urinary calcium profile of immobilized and ambulant trauma patients

14.2-

A simple technique for the placement of Schanz screws into bone using minimal radiologic control

190). At the last follow up, 97.8% of the fractures united without significant angulation or shortening. CONCLUSION The outcome of non-operative treatment of femoral shaft fractures in our setting is comparable to the results of other workers. Methods of treatment that shorten the length of hospitalisation without unduly increasing cost should be encouraged.

Esmarch tourniquet in orthopaedic surgery

OBJECTIVE The study compares psychological symptoms between amputees and other orthopedic patients. METHOD Forty-two consecutive amputees were interviewed between 7 and 28 days after amputation, and an equal number of other orthopedic patients matched for age, sex, marital status, and occupation were used as controls. Each respondent completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, while clinical variables were obtained from the case notes. Respondents also completed the General Health Questionnaire, State Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Inventory. RESULTS The mean age of amputees in this study was 42.33 years (S.D.=15.89 years), and the average weekly income is #3500.00 (

Comparative study of anxiety and depression following maxillofacial and orthopedic injuries. Study from a Nigerian University Teaching Hospital

29.00). Anxiety and depressive symptoms were high among amputees (64.3% and 59.5%, respectively) compared to other orthopedic patients (14.3% and 12.0%, respectively). Correlation analysis showed that there was significant correlation between anxiety and age (negative), marital status, and level of education, while depressive symptoms significantly correlated significantly with age (negative) and marital status. CONCLUSION Psychological symptoms are high in this sample of amputees, indicating the importance of social and emotional support for these patients.

A prospective cohort study on comparison of early outcome of classical Ponseti and modified Ponseti post tenotomy in clubfoot management

BACKGROUND Hypercalcemia occurs more frequently than is recognized in patients who are immobilized, but most of these patients are asymptomatic. This study is to determine serum and urinary calcium levels, incidence of hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria in immobilized and ambulant trauma patients. METHODS A prospective comparative study was carried out over a period of seven months. Total serum calcium level and 24-hour urinary calcium output were measured weekly over 4weeks in 55 immobilized trauma patients as study group and 51 ambulant trauma patients as control group. RESULTS Mean total serum calcium of immobilized patients increased progressively (on admission: 2.315±0.056mmol/l and week 4: 2.552±0.231mmol/l, p<.001) while that of ambulant patients did not change significantly (on admission: 2.306±0.041mmol/l, and week 4: 2.300±0.028mmol/l, p=.348). There is a significant difference in overall mean total serum calcium between immobilized and ambulant patients (p<.001). In immobilized and ambulant patients, mean 24-hour urinary calcium increased progressively from baseline (3.044±0.480mmol/day and 3.056±0.540mmol/day respectively), till the end of the study (8.543±2.142mmol/day and 6.783±1.372mmol/day respectively). Overall mean 24-hour urinary calcium is significantly different between immobilized and ambulant patients {multivariate Pillai F (5,100)=883.124, p<.001}. Incidence of hypercalcemia increased progressively in immobilized patients (end of week 1=7.27% and end of week 4=29.09%) while none of the ambulant patients had hypercalcemia. Incidence of hypercalciuria also increased progressively in immobilized patients (end of week 1=7.27% and end of week 4=63.64%) while ambulant patients only had hypercalciuria at the end of week 3 (9.8%) and week 4 (21.57%). CONCLUSION Mean total serum calcium increased with increased duration of immobilization in trauma patients. Both immobilized and ambulant trauma patients developed hypercalciuria but it is worse and earlier in the immobilized trauma patients.

Determinants of hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria in immobilized trauma patients.

The insertion of Schanz screws into the bone during external-fixation procedures in trauma and elective orthopaedic surgery is usually done under röentgenologic control. In order to minimize irradiation exposure for the patients, as well as surgeons, we describe a simple method of Schanz screw placement. The röentgenologic control of the position of the half-pins is only necessary at the beginning and the end of the procedure. This technique is simple, shortens the operating time and reduces the amount of radiation exposure to both the patient and surgeon. It is a valuable technique in many resource-poor environments who do not have the facilities for an image intensifier fluoroscopy or C-arm as well as in austere situations such as during military operations.