Knowledge, attitude and practice of safety measures among cooking gas refill attendants in Zaria Metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Cooking gas refill attendants play important role in the use of gas in Zaria. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and safety measure practices among cooking gas refill attendants in Zaria metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria. A cross sectional study was conducted in January, 2019 among cooking gas refill attendants using structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and checklist. It was a whole-population study of 121 participants. The data was collected using Open Data Kit (ODK) software version 1.21.1 installed in an android device and analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. The results were summarized and presented in tables and charts; p value was set at < 0.05 for statistical significance. Majority (79.6%) of the respondents were within the productive age group of 25 to 44 years with median age 36 years, married (57.9%) and more than half (52.1%) of the respondents had secondary education and all respondents were males. The overall scores for knowledge, attitudes and safety practices were 81.0%, 90.1% and 75.2% respectively but with various deficiencies. Those that attended training were 78.0%. Finding from the checklist showed that 5.8% of the inspected fire extinguishers were expired. The respondents’ knowledge, attitude and safety measures practices were associated with level of education, age and ethnicity. Majority of the gas refill attendants had good knowledge, attitude and safety measure practice, however, with some deficiencies. There is need for training and supervision to ensure use of personal protective equipment and replacement of the expired fire extinguishers

Outcome of the Treatment of Gunshot Open Fractures of the Lower Extremities with 'SIGN' Interlocking Nails

Background: Gunshot injuries are gradually on the increase in civilian populations in developing countries due to increasing violence in our society. The treatment of fractures from these injuries is changing with the use of locked intramedullary nailing becoming an acceptable and effective method of fixation. Surgical Implant Generation Network interlocking nails are gaining universal acceptability in these countries due to ease of use without the need for image intensifier. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of the use 'SIGN' interlocking nailing in gunshot open fractures of the lower limbs. Methods: This is a prospective study of all patients in three tertiary centres in developing countries who had gunshot fractures of lower limbs fixed with SIGN nails from 1st January to 31st December 2009 and followed up for a period of 2 years. Results: Twenty eight patients with 31 fractures with average age of 32.5years±12.6SD. All the patients were males except one female. Fractures occurred in femur in 20(71.4%) and tibia in 11(29.6%) SIGN nail was used to fix all fractures and union was achieved in all the patients. The most common complication was wound in infection in 5 (15.2%). Conclusion: SIGN intramedullary locked nail provided an effective method of fixation for gunshot fractures of the lower extremity with minimal complication

Bone tumour diagnosis in resource poor settings: the role of fine needle aspiration cytology

Background: Bone tumours are rare with limited diagnostic options in resource- poor settings. Open biopsies have several complications hence the need for an alternative, cheaper, effective diagnostic method. Aim: To compare fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of bone tumours with histology of open surgical biopsy and to ascertain whether FNAC can be substituted for open surgical biopsy. Methodology: This prospective study was carried out at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Lagos between August 2005 and July 2006. We compared the diagnostic accuracy of bone tumour specimens obtained by FNAC with the follow -up open surgical biopsy. We determined whether FNAC could be used to delineate bone tumours into benign, malignant,or metastatic tumours. Results: 22 patients were studied, age range 11-57 years. FNAC had sensitivity of 100%, false positive of 16.7%(1), and overall diagnostic accuracy of 95.2% which was higher for conclusive smears. FNAC was non- diagnostic in one case but diagnostic accuracy for giant cell tumours and osteosarcomas was 100%.  The average time interval for FNAC result was 5.1 days + SD 2 days (1-9 days) compared  to 25.4 + 20.5 SD (9-91 days) for the histology surgical biopsy (P. value 0.001). No significant complications were noted with FNAC. Conclusion:  Where clinicoradiological evaluations have provided a focused differential, FNAC can confidently be used in the diagnosis of bone tumours and is a cheaper and quicker alternative to open surgical biopsy with little or no significant complication in resource poor settings. Keywords: Fine needle aspiration cytology, open biopsy, histopatholog