Pattern of Neurosurgical Diseases and Outcome of Management in an Emerging Neurosurgical Centre in Southern Part of Nigeria

Background: There is a dearth of neurosurgical and neurological services in many populations in Nigeria. This is despite the documented high unmet neurosurgical need. Only in the last few decades have neurosurgical units spread outside federal teaching hospitals to other federal-owned and state hospitals in the country. We commenced neurosurgical services at the Federal Medical Centre Asaba in August 2020. Method: This is a review of the unit records kept prospectively for inpatients and outpatients managed by our neurosurgical unit within the first three months of its existence, spanning from August to October 2020. We analysed sex, age, diagnosis, treatment and outcome. Results: A total of sixty-eight (68) patients were seen during the period, with 54 of them admitted at one point or the other. The male to female ratio was 2:1, with ages 16–45 years constituting the majority. Neurotrauma of varying severity accounted for most diagnoses, while congenital malformations occurred in only 8.8% of the patients, with most presenting late for treatment. Although surgical intervention was indicated in 15 patients, only 10 patients had surgeries, most being for traumatic brain injury. Nine patients, including two of those surgically managed, were admitted into the intensive care unit. Of those admitted, 66.6% were discharged, 13% left against medical advice and another 13% died. Four patients were referred on request. Conclusion: Neurotrauma was the leading reason for seeking neurosurgical care in this emerging neurosurgical unit. The proportion of other neurosurgical disease entities may, however, rise with increasing awareness of the services available and with efforts by relevant authorities to mitigate the factors that predispose to neurotrauma.