African journal of paediatric surgery : AJPS最新文献

Introduction: Posterior fossa tumors are significant in pediatric neurooncological populations due to their frequency and morbimortality. We convey a 10-year experience managing pediatric posterior fossa tumors at two reference centers in Cameroon.

Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with data collected retrospectively in the Neurosurgery Department of the Central and General Hospitals of Yaounde from January 2010 to December 2019. Included in the study were all patients aged 0-15 years who underwent surgery for posterior fossa tumors.

Results: We retained 43 pediatric posterior fossa tumor files, representing 47.89% of pediatric brain tumors. The male/female sex ratio was 0.86, with a mean age of 6.93 ± 4.345 years. The predominant clinical presentations were headaches + vomiting (97.7%), visual impairment (67.4%), and altered consciousness (14%). The vermis was the most frequent site affected (46.5%). Hydrocephalus was found to be associated with the tumor in 30 patients (69.8%). Tumor excision was total in 90.7% of cases, with cerebrospinal fluid diversion performed within the surgery in 83% of cases. Pilocytic astrocytomas represented 37.2%, medulloblastomas 30.25%, ependymomas 6.9%, and brainstem gliomas 4.6%. The postoperatory mortality rate was 20.9%. The survival rate at 5 years for medulloblastomas was 43%.

Conclusion: Pediatric posterior fossa tumors are frequent. Pilocytic astrocytomas are the most common histologic type, followed by medulloblastomas. Radical surgery is the leading standard of care. Adjuvant treatment remains limited.

Background: Although congenital ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction is the most common cause of neonatal hydronephrosis, aetiopathogenesis is still inconclusive. Recently, the paucity of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) at the narrow adynamic part of UPJ has been implicated as a causative factor.

Materials and methods: This prospective study was conducted between October 2019 and March 2022 to find out the density of ICC by the immunohistochemical method using CD117 (c-kit) antibody, in resected segments of UPJ in obstruction patients and in renal tumour patients as control. ICC/high power field (hpf) was also studied from the margins of the resected segment in the obstruction group. The pre-operative and post-operative sonographic and renal scintigraphic features were compared.

Results: The median age of patients in the study group (n = 25) was 36 months and in the control group was 39 months. The mean ICC/hpf at the stenotic part of UPJ in the study group was 3.56 ± 1.26 and in the control group was 12.56 ± 1.89 (P = 0.0001). ICC density from the proximal and distal margins of the resected segment was 11.12 ± 2.12 and 11.68 ± 1.62, respectively (P < 0.001). The post-operative antero-posterior diameter of the renal pelvis and differential renal function showed significant improvement in comparison to the pre-operative value (P = 0.0045 and 0.0005, respectively).

Conclusions: The significant decrease in the density of ICC at the stenotic part of UPJ compared to controls suggests a pacemaker role of these cells in ureteral peristalsis and the aetiopathogenesis of UPJ obstruction. Histopathological analysis of ICC should not only be limited to the stenotic part of UPJ but also should focus on the anastomosed ends of the ureter, which reflects post-pyeloplasty outcome.

Background: Firearm injuries (FAIs) continue to be a global public health problem possessing substantial emotional, physical and financial burdens on hospital resources. Although FAIs are rare in children, their incidence is gradually increasing.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate various aspects of FAI in children that were managed at a tertiary care centre located in the rural part of India.

Materials and methods: This clinical observational study of children <18 years of age, all due to FAI, was conducted at a tertiary care centre located in the rural part of India. Data of all children admitted with FAI over 4 years from January 2016 to December 2019 were collected. Recorded data included age, sex, motive (intentional/unintentional) and circumstances leading to injury, type and license status of firearm used, time of injury, pre-hospital care, mode of transport to hospital, duration between injury and arrival to hospital, body parts and organs injured, trauma scores, management, complications, length of hospital stay and outcomes. The recorded data were entered into a worksheet and analysed.

Results: Out of 283 cases of FAI admitted, only 24 were children with age <18 years (8.48%). The mean age was 12.66 years (male:female = 2.4:1). Sixteen were intentional (66.67%) and eight were unintentional (33.33%). The family feud was the most common reason in case of intentional FAI (43.75%), and mishandling was the most common reason in case of unintentional FAI. Country made gun was the most common firearm used (62.5%). The chest and upper back were the most common sites of injury (54.16%). Intercostal drainage tube insertion was the most common surgical procedure performed (33.33%). There were three mortalities (12.5%).

Conclusion: The present study found that intentional FAIs in children were more common than unintentional FAIs with family feuds and mishandling being the most common causes, respectively. The unlicensed country-made gun was the most common firearm causing injury in children.

Introduction: Adduction and medial rotation shoulder contracture are prevalent in unresolved neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP). Various surgical options exist, including open anterior subscapularis release, to address this condition. This study assessed the outcomes of this procedure.

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional, observational study focused on a cohort of children aged over 12 months who underwent open anterior subscapularis release to remedy residual shoulder contracture from upper or global NBPP over 11 years. The Mallet score was utilised to appraise deficits in shoulder function.

Results: The study included 32 patients. The sex ratio was 0.78. The median age at surgery was 36 months (25; 56). The right side was affected in 75% of cases. The median improvement in the Mallet score after subscapularis release was 4 (2; 6). This enhancement was statistically significant (P < 0.001), with a median follow-up duration of 78 months (72; 82). There was a substantial increase in shoulder abduction (P < 0.001) and lateral rotation (P < 0.001). Hand-to-mouth (P < 0.001) and hand-to-head (P < 0.001) manoeuvres exhibited significant enhancement. The hand-to-spine manoeuvre did not show a substantial alteration. A significant correlation was found between the injury severity and the enhancement of the Mallet score post-surgery (P = 0.009).

Conclusion: Open anterior subscapularis release yielded significant mid-term functional enhancements in shoulder motion, with no modification in medial rotation. Improvements were observed even in children beyond 4 years of age, with those having more severe injuries showing greater functional recovery.

Abstract: A large number of congenital anomalies often involve the umbilicus. This is a report of two such anomalies together in an infant. The child had a mass protruding from the umbilicus since birth. The urachus was noted to be patent on voiding cystourethrogram. On exploration, a patent vitellointestinal duct was also noted. Resection and anastomosis was done for the vitellointestinal duct, and the urachus was excised close to the dome of the bladder. Histopathological examination confirmed a tube lined by intestinal epithelium and the urachal remnant showing a dense fibrous tube-like structure. The omphalo-mesenteric vessels are located between the urachus and the patent vitellointestinal duct, and care should be taken while incising or dissecting in this region to prevent bleeding.

Abstract: Hypospadias is one of the most common and extensively studied pathology of paediatric surgery. Although a plethora of research articles describing hypospadias and its variants exist, new variants are often encountered and they never cease to surprise us. We, in our case, are trying to add a drop to the sea of variants of hypospadias. A 2-year-old boy was brought with an abnormally large and patulous urethral opening at the mid-penile region with intact prepuce and chordee. In this case report, we will review the available literature on this rare variant and discuss its management.

Abstract: Tumours of the adrenal cortex are most commonly seen in adults but rare in children. The clinical manifestations depend on the age and sex of patients; about two-thirds of the cases virilisation is the predominant presentation, whereas many presents with both virilisation and cushingoid features. Diagnosis is confirmed by hormonal evaluation and radiological investigations. Surgical removal is the mainstay of treatment. Usually, there is a good prognosis in paediatric patients, whereas the high mortality rate reported in older literature may have been due to big tumour size, post-operative complications and inadequate steroid replacement. Here, we are presenting a series of three cases during childhood with virilising features due to adrenocortical tumours. All of them presented predominantly with features suggestive of virilisation. All patients underwent surgery and had a good outcome despite big tumour size in one of the patients. Histology revealed a benign lesion in the form of adrenal adenoma. Most virilisation and cushingoid features disappeared in the follow-up (median - 1 year). Although these tumours are rare, a high index of suspicion should be kept in children with cushingoid features, virilisation or a combination of both of them. Even if the tumour size is big, adequate steroid replacement and supportive management postoperatively have led to good prognosis in our patients.

Background: Acute appendicitis (AA) is a frequent and emergent surgical abdominal condition that presents some particularities and challenges in young children.

Patients and methods: Data of 402 children aged <16 years with a confirmed diagnosis of AA were retrospectively reviewed. Included patients were divided into two groups: Group A (preschool children aged ≤5 years, n = 44) and Group B (school children aged >5 years, n = 358). Clinical presentation, biological findings, calculated diagnosis scores (paediatric appendicitis score [PAS] and Alvarado score), intraoperative findings and outcomes were comparatively analysed between the two groups.

Results: Children of Group A had more likely fever, bowel disorders, diffuse abdominal pain and diffuse tenderness than those of Group B (P = 0.001, P = 0.005, P = 0.006 and P = 0.001, respectively). Regarding biomarkers, the mean of white blood cell count and C-reactive protein levels was higher in Group A than in Group B (18,849 cell/mm3 and 162.8 mg/L in Group A versus 15,938 cell/mm3 and 86.7 mg/L in Group B, P = 0.003 and < 0.001, respectively). The mean of calculated PAS and Alvarado scores was higher in Group A than in Group B (8.2 ± 1.1 and 8.2 ± 1 vs. 7.5 ± 1.4 and 7.4 ± 1.5, P = 0.003 and P = 0.001, respectively). Most children with a calculated PAS and Alvarado score equal to or higher than 8 belonged to Group A (PAS: 84.1% vs. 58.4%, P = 0.001, Alvarado score: 84.1% vs. 55.6%, P < 0.001). The perforation of the appendix was seen in 77.3% of Group A patients and only in 41.5% of children in Group B (P < 0.0001). The mean length of stay was 5.1 ± 1.9 days in Group A and 4.3 ± 2.8 days in Group B but without any statistical difference between the two groups (P = 0.094).

Conclusion: AA in preschool children is associated with atypical presentation and rapid progression of the disease making the early diagnosis mostly challenging in our settings.

Background: In developing countries, motorcycles are a widespread transportation method, leading to a notable increase in road traffic injuries, particularly those involving the ankle and foot caused by motorcycle wheel spokes.

Aims and objectives: Our study sought to understand the epidemiological features and characteristics of motorcycle-induced wheel spoke injuries to the ankle and foot in children. The objectives were to comprehend injury patterns, evaluate their severity and pinpoint clinical indicators predicting injury nature and extent, aiming to guide prevention strategies.

Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study with a retrospective data collection focused on children under the age of 16 years who sustained injuries from motorcycle rear wheel spokes while riding as pillion passengers and were admitted to our department over 11 years, from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2020, with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Soft tissue wounds were classified using the Oestern-Tscherne classification.

Results: Thirty patients were enrolled in this study. Before 2015, cases ranged from none to one annually, increasing to 2-7 cases per year after 2015. The average age was 6.7 ± 2.1 years. Significantly, more patients were older than 6 years (P < 0.001), injured on the right side (P < 0.001) and suffered the injuries in the afternoon (P < 0.001). All patients were pillion and were injured by the motorcycle's rear wheel. Twenty-five patients (83%) had a Grade 3 injury. There was a tendon rupture in 22 (73%) and a bone fracture in 15 (50%) patients. Loss of soft tissue (P = 0.036) and reduced ankle mobility (P = 0.046) were linked to tendon ruptures. Lengths of wound exceeding 6 cm (P = 0.025) and loss of soft tissue (P = 0.025) were associated with a bone fracture.

Conclusion: Children's motorcycle wheel spoke injuries have increased in recent years. Loss of soft tissue and ankle mobility deficit proved to be reliable clinical signs of a tendon rupture. A wound length exceeding 6 cm and a loss of soft tissue were indicative of a related bone fracture.

Background: Gastrointestinal perforation (GIP) during the neonatal period is still a significant problem despite improved neonatal care. The study aimed to report on incidence, management, morbidity and mortality.

Material and methods: Records of neonates with GIPs between October 2018 and November 2022 were retrospectively analysed.

Results: There were 47 patients, 22 (46.8%) males and 25 (53.2%) females. The incidence of neonatal GIP was 0.39% amongst all newborns treated in the neonatal intensive care unit. The mean gestational age was 30.4 ± 4.5 (23-38) weeks, and the mean birth weight was 1493.08 ± 753 (580-2940) g. Of 47 neonates, 5 (10.6%) were full term and 42 (89.4%) were preterm. The mean age of surgery was 12.25 ± 9.89 (0-41) days. A laparotomy was performed in 43 (91.4%) of 47 neonates, while seven of the patients underwent surgical intervention after decompression by percutaneous drainage. Four patients were managed with peritoneal drainage alone due to poor general condition. The pathologies unrelated to necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) were the most common cause of GIPs (55.3%) and included spontaneous intestinal perforation (n = 18), stomach perforation (n = 4), segmental volvulus (n = 2), acute mesenteric ischaemia (n = 1) and meconium peritonitis (n = 1). Overall survival was 55.4%.

Conclusion: GIPs are one of the most significant causes of mortality in newborns. The most common cause of perforations is non-NEC entities and can be seen in the entire intestinal system from the stomach to the colon. Surgical exploration is still the primary management model.