transfacetal screw fixation for back pain

I have just returned from a trip to Austria to learn the technique of insertion of a transfacetal, transpedicular screw fixation for patients with severe back pain. The screw technique called PERPOS is interesting and has been applied for those patients (specially selected) who do not quite meet the criteria for pedicle screw fixation. This fuses the facets causing pain without interfering with the other joints. The procedure can also be reversed and converted to a pedicle screw fixation in the future if necessary. I like it. See the image above.

Professor Ohaegbulam

It was a pleasure and an honour to meet the highly esteemed Professor Ohaegbulam in Enugu over the past few days. I travelled by air from Abuja to Enugu on a pleasant Friday morning to visit MEMFYS neurosurgical unit, in Enugu. This is the first private neurosurgical unit and perhaps one of the better equipped and functional neurosurgical units in the country.

I have not visited many neurounits in Nigeria but reports do suggest that many are struggling to provide adequate and qualitative service to the people. Indeed many units have a severe shortage of trained nursing staff, beds and equipment. This makes the job of the local neurosurgeon doubly difficult enabling Memfys to be well positioned in providing additional support for neurosurgical services in the country.

I had a wonderful time at the hospital and met many lovely people including of course, Mrs Ohaegbulam. I was shown round the hospital and was particularly suprised to see a CERETOM mobile CT scanner in the unit. I have obtained an internet image of the scanner for you to see. Its quite compact, functional with good image copies and can be battery powered. The unit is also planning to install an MRI scanner in the near future.

Prof mentioned about his speech on the state of neurosurgery in Nigeria. This is of interest to me as I am keen to write and rewrite the history for posterity. Such publications are therefore of real benefit. The Odeku Memorial Lecture published in the African Journal of Medical Sciences (Ibadan) on the practice of neurosurgery in Nigeria is a must read for all our neurosurgeons. Please see: Ohaegbulam SC: Half a Century of Neurosurgery in Nigeria. The 13th E. Latunde Odeku Memorial lecture. Afr.J.Med.Sci. (20098) 37,293-302. Unfortunately the copy is not available online but can be obtained direct from the publishers. Or get a friend to get the journal for you as I intend to do.

My visit to MEMFYS was a very memorable and enjoyable one. The professor found time in his very busy schedule to have quite insightful conversations with me. The range of topics was quite wide and I will share some with you in the next few weeks. I was truly honoured to be in his presence and will always remember the visit fondly.

Biodun Ogungbo

Image: The CereTom CT scanner

the ashanti graham health and education intiative foundation

Dr Douglas Okor recently donated a microscope and other equipment to the Department of Surgery University of Benin. This altruistic gesture which came to fruition under the auspices of the foundation is highly commendable. Its a small step in the right direction to assist in the development of neurosurgical services at UniBen. The picture shows Douglas (left) presenting a projector to the Head of Department. Dr Udor, neurosurgeon is seen in the background.

case reviews

This blog is useful for discussions on interesting cases which could be learning points for us. If you have a case thats confounding or difficult you could share it here and hopefully get advice and opinion from someone who may have dealt with something similar. Pictures and videos can be loaded easily so makes it really worthwhile and a useful educational tool.

I will find a case I can share with you soon.

Biodun

Recent publication from Nnewi

Hi there
This article below is one of the most enjoyable articles I have read recently. It relates to my earlier post and a start in the need to document the state of affairs in Neurosurgery. We do need to define where we are, the problems facing us and then we can form a pressure group to benchmark the changes required. This article is a welcome addition to the literature. Biodun

Neurosurgery in Nigeria--an evaluation of the perception of health personnel in a new centre and a comparison of the Nigerian situation with that of other African states.
Emejulu JK.

Department of Surgery, Nnamdi Azikiwe University & Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.

CONCLUSION: Neurosurgical service in Nigeria is grossly inadequate both in availability and quality, and these have resulted from bad government policies. It is therefore of utmost necessity that services and training be urgently provided in this specialty, at least in the tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

Nigerian Neurosurgeons

The leaders of the Nigerian Neurosurgical community that I know and have been in contact with are as listed below.

Professor Adeloye, Professor Arigbabu, Professor Shokunbi, Professor Ohaegbulam, Mr. Shehu, Malomo, etc etc.

However, there are without doubt many more practising all over the world: quietly contributing their quota in their local areas and internationally.

We need to start writing about the past, the present and the future of neurosurgery in Nigeria for posterity. This activity starts from a recognition of our elders, documentation of their contributions, and should lead to stimulating discussions and constructive engagement in documenting the history of Neurosurgery in Nigeria. There are now many more units in Nigeria and some are still in infancy. However, this is the time to start a chronicle of all the units and start collecting the names, pictures and record of achievements in each neurosurgical centre for the future. The young and the older neurosurgeons have a role to play. We are in a unique position to continue the excellent work done by our predecessors. We have to rise to the occasion and start another renaissance of Neurosurgery in Nigeria.

There are currently about 24 neurosurgeons practising in Nigeria and countless more working in other countries all over the world. What we need to do is link up and start real dialogue, social networking and educational programs to stimulate further development of Neurosurgery in Nigeria.

This I hope is a small beginning on this long long road.

Please email me details of Nigerian Neurosurgeons that you know so I can invite them to the blog. You can also invite them anyway and we can use this forum (restricted at the moment to neurosurgeons only) to communicate.

I will hopefully meet and document many more names as this blog develops.

Biodun