Prevalence, perception and correlates of low back pain among healthcare workers in tertiary health institutions in Sokoto, Nigeria

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common cause of disability worldwide. Healthcare workers are particularly prone to it because of the physical and emotional factors associated with their profession.Objectives: To determine the prevalence, perception and correlates of LBP among healthcare workers in tertiary health institutions in Sokoto, Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 320 healthcare workers selected by multistage sampling technique from July to September 2016. Anthropometry was done for the participants in addition to questionnaire administration.Results: The mean age of the study participants was 36.99 +/- 8.23 years. The lifetime, annual, and point prevalence of LBP among the participants were 56.2%, 39.1% and 17.2% respectively. Most, 151 (83.9%) of the 180 participants that have ever experienced LBP reported that it commenced after starting work, and they perceived it to be due to standing for long hours (57.2%), awkward postures (22.2%) and carrying heavy objects/patients at work (20.6%). Older age, female sex, longer duration of practice, overweight/obesity, and lifting heavy objects/patients at work were significantly associated with LBP among the participants.Conclusion: The prevalence of LBP is high among healthcare workers in Sokoto, Nigeria; although it was also associated with older age and female sex, being in practice for 10 years and above, overweight/obesity, and lifting heavy objects/patients at work were the predictors identified. Management of the respective hospitals should prevent workplace exposures to heavy weight/objects by establishing “lift teams” as a temporary measure, and also implement “zero lift programs” in their facilities.Funding: NilKeywords: Prevalence, perception, correlates, low back pain, healthcare workers

Ankle Arthrodesis Following Trauma, a Useful Salvage Procedure – A Report on Three Cases

Open musculoskeletal injuries remain a difficult problem to manage especially in resource-poor regions. They are complicated by prolonged morbidity and chronic osseous infections and sometimes gangrene. Our objective was to look at ankle arthrodesis as a primary and useful salvage procedure through simple technique for cases of severe open ankle injuries. Three patients with severe open ankle injuries between January 2007 and December 2009 were seen and had wound debridement done and compressive ankle arthrodesis with a Charnley's arthrodesis clamp. Tibiotalar and tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis was the procedure carried out. Patients were followed up for 3–12 months. Wound breakdown was seen in two cases and one later had skin grafting. All patients expressed satisfaction with the outcome of surgery. Ankle arthrodesis is a simple and useful salvage procedure for severe ankle disruption, guaranteeing patients satisfaction as against amputation

Pattern of paediatric trauma in Sokoto, North West Nigeria

Background: Paediatric trauma has become a major cause of mortality, disability and socioeconomic burden in developing countries and the World Health Organization (WHO) projects that by 2020 it will be the leading disease globally. This study described the pattern of paediatric injuries seen at a regional trauma center in North West, Nigeria. Settings and Design: Trauma centre of a tertiary hospital in North-Western Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A retrospective look at the trauma register for records of paediatric trauma from January to December 2010 was performed. Information obtained include age and sex, causes and pattern of injury. The limit of 16 years was set for paediatric in our centre. Results: The numbers of paediatric trauma seen over the 12-month period were 567 out of a total of 3984 trauma cases representing 14.2%. The number of males was 407(71.8%) and females were 160(28.2%) with M: F ratio of 2.5:1. The mean age was 7.77 and standard deviation of 0.19. Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) and Domestic injuries representing 44.8 and 42.0%, respectively, were the commonest causes of injuries. Laceration and bruises, head injuries including extremities were the commonest types of injuries seen. Conclusion: Road traffic accidents and domestic injuries as common causes of paediatric trauma need to be ′addressed by the authorities′ so as to reduce the burden of trauma on the vulnerable children in our society