BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: The prudent allocation of neurosurgical resources and training efforts requires an understanding of prevalence and clinical pattern of neurosurgical disorders in a particular region. The aim of our study was to assess the hospital-based prevalence of neurosurgical disease in the setting of rural sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: The study was conducted at Haydom Lutheran Hospital in northern Tanzania. Over a period of 8 months, all patients suspected of having neurologic or neurosurgical disorders were seen by a neurologist in consecutive order. Patients were assessed clinically and with plain radiographs, a computed tomography scanner was not available. RESULTS: Of 8676 admissions, 151 patients (1.7%) were given a neurosurgical diagnosis. The most frequent diagnoses were traumatic brain injury (n=90), followed by tuberculosis of the spine (n=22), spina bifida (n=14), space-occupying cerebral lesion (n=13), and hydrocephalus (n=12). The overall mortality was 10.6%; it was especially high in patients with hydrocephalus (25%), space-occupying cerebral lesions (54%), and spina bifida (29%). CONCLUSIONS: Initial neurosurgical training and resource allocation in sub-Saharan Africa should focus on neurotrauma, spinal infections, congenital malformations, and hydrocephalus.
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: The prudent allocation of neurosurgical resources and training efforts requires an understanding of prevalence and clinical pattern of neurosurgical disorders in a particular region. The aim of our study was to assess the hospital-based prevalence of neurosurgical disease in the setting of rural sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: The study was conducted at Haydom Lutheran Hospital in northern Tanzania. Over a period of 8 months, all patients suspected of having neurologic or neurosurgical disorders were seen by a neurologist in consecutive order. Patients were assessed clinically and with plain radiographs, a computed tomography scanner was not available. RESULTS: Of 8676 admissions, 151 patients (1.7%) were given a neurosurgical diagnosis. The most frequent diagnoses were traumatic brain injury (n=90), followed by tuberculosis of the spine (n=22), spina bifida (n=14), space-occupying cerebral lesion (n=13), and hydrocephalus (n=12). The overall mortality was 10.6%; it was especially high in patients with hydrocephalus (25%), space-occupying cerebral lesions (54%), and spina bifida (29%). CONCLUSIONS: Initial neurosurgical training and resource allocation in sub-Saharan Africa should focus on neurotrauma, spinal infections, congenital malformations, and hydrocephalus.
Authors: Luke R Smart; Halinder S Mangat; Benson Issarow; Paul McClelland; Gerald Mayaya; Emmanuel Kanumba; Linda M Gerber; Xian Wu; Robert N Peck; Isidore Ngayomela; Malik Fakhar; Philip E Stieg; Roger Härtl Journal: World Neurosurg Date: 2017-05-27 Impact factor: 2.104
Authors: Herbert I Fried; Barnett R Nathan; A Shaun Rowe; Joseph M Zabramski; Norberto Andaluz; Adarsh Bhimraj; Mary McKenna Guanci; David B Seder; Jeffrey M Singh Journal: Neurocrit Care Date: 2016-02 Impact factor: 3.210