Cephalometric Assessment of the Fourth Ventricles Using Computerized Tomography: A Five Year Study in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria

The fourth ventricle is usually affected in posterior cranial fossa tumours and other intracranial and ventricular disorders. Therefore, accurate measurement of the fourth ventricle will go a long way in evaluating braindisorders and decision making prior to neurosurgical procedures. This, therefore, places high premium on the accuracy in the technique and equipment used in obtaining a good Computerised Tomography (CT) Scan of the brain. To provide baseline data for measurements of normal fourth ventricle using computed tomographic Scan. Measurement was made with Dragon V3.1.1. A total of 652 scan examinations of subjects were analyzed in this study. 434 (65.79%) of the subjects were males while 217 (34.21%) were females. (M: F ratio = 2:1).The mean length of the fourth ventricles was 9.55mm and mean width was 12.86mm. Maximum length was 13.95mm and minimum length was 5.1mm. Least width was 2.65mm and greatest width was 17.28mm. Thus, the difference between the lengths of the fourth ventricles was not statistically significant (p.0.05), so also there was no statistically significant difference (p> 0.05) between the width of the fourth ventricles in males and females. In conclusion, this study has provided reference ranges for the normal values of the length and width of the fourth ventricle in male and female Nigerians.Keywords: Cephalometry, assessment, fourth ventricles, CT, Nigeria

Body Mass Index (Bmi) Of Adults Hausa-Fulani In Northwestern Nigeria

Background: The accuracy of Body Mass Index (BMI) in relation to actual levels of body fat is easily distorted by such factors as fitness level, muscle mass, bone structure, gender and ethnicity. Design: A prospective study of the BMI of apparently healthy adults Hausa-Fulani subjects was undertaken in Sokoto metropolis. Methodology: A random sampling method was used to select volunteers whose BMI was studied from March to June 2007. Health-O-Meter Scale (Balance Beam) and Stature Measurement Board were used to measure the weight and height respectively. The weight of every volunteer was scaled according to his/her height. Results: A total of 400 subjects were involved in this study. Of this figure, 288 (72%) were males, and 112 (28%) were females (m: f ratio =2.6:1). The range of measurement of BMI for all the subjects used in the study was 1I-68kg/m2. The lower boundary of BMI for males (11 kg/m2) found in this study was lower than that for females (15 kg/m2). The upper boundary of BMI obtained for males (34 kg/m2), again, was lower than that of females (68 kg/m2). The mean BMI obtained for all the subjects was 21.13 kg/m2 ±4.37). However, the mean BMI for males (20.68 kg/m2 ±3.57) was significantly (

Plain Radiographic Cephalometry of the Sella turcica: An Overview

Background: The simplest of the parameters in anthropometry, including, height, weight, length, thickness and widths of various parts of the body vary from tribe to tribe and from one race to the other, and measurements of these parameters also differ amongst different age groups and between the two sexes as well. Method: A review composed via Medline Internet search, literature search and contributions from our experiences as well as experiences from colleagues. Results: Studies on measurements of the Sella turcica have revealed variations in the size of the fossa with certain parameters such as age, sex e.t.c. Conclusion: It is concluded that complete study of the Sella turcica requires multidirectional tomography. Keywords: Sella turcica, plain radiography,cephalometry. Nigerian Journal of Medicine Vol. 17 (3) 2008: pp. 333-33

Measurements Of The Bony External Auditory Meatus (Beam) Using Plain Radiographs: Experience From Sokoto, Northwestern Nigeria

Background: The simplest of the parameters in anthropometry, including, height, weight, length, thickness and widths of various parts of the body vary from tribe to tribe and from one race to the other. On the other hand, these measurements also differ amongst different age groups and between the two sexes as well. Design: A retrospective study of the measurements of Bony External Auditory Meatus (BEAM) was undertaken using normal lateral skull radiographs of Nigerians examined in the department of Radiology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, from 2002 to 2004. Methodology: All available lateral skull radiographs of subjects over a 3-year period from 2002 to 2004 were retrieved from the Radiology Department of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto for the study. Radiographs were mounted on the viewing boxes and BEAM diameters were measured. Results: A total of 202 subjects were involved in this study. Of this figure, 148 (73%) were males, and 54 (27%) were females (m: f ratio =2.7:1). The age range of all the subjects was 1-60 years (mean 24.6, SD 15.6 years). The vertical diameter ranged from 3mm to 14mm, and the horizontal diameter ranged from 2 to 11mm. The mean BEAM diameters obtained from all the radiographs of the subjects studied were 10.2mm (+-1.7) for vertical and 7.0mm (+-1.6) for horizontal diameters. The BEAM diameters for males were greater than those of their female counterparts, and the differences were statistically significant (p< 0.05 for both vertical and horizontal diameters). The BEAM diameters increase with age (R2 =0.805 and 0.571 for vertical and horizontal diameters respectively). There were statistically significant age related differences (in all the six decades of life) in both vertical and horizontal diameters (

Prediction of Stature of Hausa Ethnic Group Using Hand Length and Breath

Background: Stature can be estimated using certain anthropometric measures. This may be due to the inaccessibility to the height measuring tool at the time of need. Hand dimensions on the other hand can be easily measured using ordinary transparent graded ruler, sliding or Vernier caliper. This study is aimed at getting a simple equation that will be utilized for theestimation of stature of the Hausa ethnic group using only hand length and hand breadth.Methodology: Each subject has been studied for the measurement of the height (Stature, S), Hand Length (HL), and the Hand Breadth (HB) using the Vernier Caliper and anthropometer. The data was recorded and analyzed using MINITAB software version 12.21 and for formulating the regression equation. Microsoft Word 2007 was used for tables.The regression equation is: Stature (HT) in cm = 168 + 0.5HL - 1.2HBResults: Six hundred and twelve (612) Hausa students aged 18 45 years with a mean age of 25 years ± 0.55 at Bayero University Kano were selected using simple random sampling technique. The subjects consist of 451 males and 161 females. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the data was carried out to find out whether there is any statistically significant difference. The males have higher values than females in one of thethree dimensions measured. The stature mean value is 169.3cm ± SD in males and 165.2cm ± SD in females. The mean value for the hand length is 18.5cm ± SD for both males and females. The mean value for the hand breadth is 7.5cm ± SD also for both males and females.Conclusion: This equation will be helpful in approximation of stature where there is difficulty in getting direct measurement or where there is a hand print of a criminal or an amputated hand of criminal, in the field of war, in a mass accidents or massive death due to disaster

CONJOINED TWINS PRESENTING AS HAND PROLAPSE IN A RURAL HOSPITAL: A CASE REPORT

Conjoined twin pregnancies are so rare and maybe ones in a lifetime experience. Therefore there is so much to learn from each case. We present a case of male thoraco-omphalopagus conjoins twin, Nigerian that presented as a case of hand prolapsed diagnosed only after cesarean section. Both twins were stillborn. Conjoined twin pregnancy is a rare occurrence and may poise some obstetric challenges. Since many congenital defects can now be detected before birth, this place high importance in antenatal care and prenatal diagnosis as to determine the mode of delivery and early termination of pregnancy when the anomaly is not compatible with life