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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2009  |  Volume : 50  |  Issue : 4  |  Page : 84-86

Comparative studies of spinal celes in Switzerland, Jamaica, and Nigeria, and possible relationship with environmental pollution


Department of Surgery, Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Correspondence Address:
M.O.N. Ibe
Department of Surgery, Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State
Nigeria
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


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Objective and Background:The need to sanitize our environment from elements hazardous to life on earth is hereby high-lighted, as well as a properly organized and efficiently run prenatal health care system. Clinical Methods and Materials:From 1975 to 2004,17 spinal celes (including 2 meningoceles) were routinely repaired in Imo and Ebonyi States of Nigeria, and 5 in Jam aica,the West Indies; none in Easel, Switzerland. All 20 meningomyeloceles were incontinent of urine and faeces, had severe paraparesis to paraplegia, sensory loss in both lower limbs, and bilateral pedes equino-varus in 16 cases. In addition, 2 were hydrocephalic, andall meningomyeloceles were ulcerated. All celes were micllme. The meninggoceles were normal. The operations were carried out under routine general anaesthesia. Results: The pre-operation status remained the same in all 20 meningomyeloceles 60 months later, though, they were able to sit up and shift around on their buttocks. The meningoceles remain d norm al. The hydrocephalus in both cases was arrested. There were no deaths within the hospitalization period of about 14 days. Conclusion: Vigorous endeavor to sanitize our environment from obnoxious elem ents(env ironm ental pollution, hazardous waste sites, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, water chsinfection by-products, etc.), good and adequate antenatal care, with antenatal diagnosis of the malformed foetus and termination of the pregnancy, must be strived at, folic acid supplementation must begin before conception.


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