Search

Predatory journals (PJs) publish research with little to no rigorous peer review in exchange for money. It is unclear what proportion of researchers is vulnerable to PJs and which factors are associated with vulnerability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the vulnerability of African neurosurgery researchers to PJs and identify their correlates.A 3-part electronic survey in English and French versions was distributed via social media to African consultants and trainees from November 1 to December 1, 2021. Bivariable relationships were evaluated with χThere were 101 respondents to the survey (response rate 56.1%). Respondents had mean age of 34.9 years, 82.2% were male (n = 83), 38.6% were consultant neurosurgeons (n = 39), and 33.7% were from Central Africa (n = 34). Of respondents, 66 had published ≥ 1 articles in the past, and 13 had published at least 1 article in a PJ. A PJ had contacted 34 respondents via e-mail, and 8 respondents had reviewed articles for a PJ. The Think. Check. Submit initiative and Beall's list were familiar to 19 and 13 respondents, respectively. Publication in PJs was correlated with the respondent's age (R = 0.23, P = 0.02) and total scholarly output (R = 0.38, P0.01).Young African neurosurgery researchers are vulnerable to PJs primarily because they are not familiar with the concept of PJs or how to identify them.

Background. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) imposes an enormous burden on health systems and it is the most frequent cause of hospitalization in children. This study aimed at describing the causes, presentation, management, and outcome of children with TBI admitted at a tertiary referral hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe. Methods. This prospective cohort study was conducted with a convenience sample of children aged ≤ 12 years and admitted with TBI at the study site from June 2018 to May 2019. The children were followed from their admission to one-month post-discharge. Sociodemographic, clinical, and neuroimaging data were collected. The median length of stay was calculated and the Chi-square, Fisher’s exact, and Kruskal Wallis tests were used. Results. 84 children with TBI were recruited. Most were males (66.7%) and (56.0%) had sustained TBI following a motor vehicle accident. An initial period of loss of consciousness that lasted a median of 6.5 (IQR = 4.8) hours was noted in 60.7% of patients. The most common symptom at presentation was headache (61.9%), and mild TBI was the most common type of TBI. Skeletal injuries were the most encountered associated injuries (13.1%) and the majority of patients were managed non-operatively – 79 (94.0%). Most patients (56.0%) experienced upper good recovery at one-month follow-up. Conclusions. Motor vehicle accidents are the main cause of pediatric TBI in Zimbabwe. Most patients do not require surgical treatment and have a good recovery.

Background Africa has a large burden of spine pathology but has limited and insufficient infrastructure to manage these spine disorders. Therefore, we conducted this e-survey to assess the prevalence and identify the determinants of the availability of spine surgery navigation techniques in Africa. Materials and methods A two-part questionnaire was disseminated amongst African neurological and orthopedic surgery consultants and trainees from January 24 to February 23, 2021. The Chi-Square, Fisher Exact, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to evaluate bivariable relationships, and a p-value, Highlights • African spine surgery has regional disparities in navigation techniques. • Fluoroscopy is the most prevalent navigation technique. • Cost and lack of trained personnel are the most significant barriers.

Functional neurosurgery covers a set of neurosurgical techniques that aims at restoring functional neurologic disorders. In Africa, less data is available to map out this activity, though the increased prevalence of diseases such as epilepsy or Parkinson's disease, which results in a high morbidity and mortality rate. However, functional neurosurgery remains very scarce and costly in these countries, hence difficult to implement. A scoping review will be performed to map functional neurosurgery activities in Africa. The Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review methodology will be used to collect data, and a PRISMA chart used to follow-up data.

Motor impairment of cerebral origin is a syndrome that induces a reduction in activity, the origin of which is brain injury or a non-progressive and definitive abnormality occurring in a developing immature brain. Motor disability, spastic, dyskinetic or ataxic, is often associated with sensory, cognitive, sensory and behavioral disorders with or without epileptic disease. View of accidental discoveries of corpus callosum abnormalities, most often asymptomatic or associated with psychomotor retardation, epilepsy, neurological disorders or cardiomyopathy, a high technical platform must be available for its diagnosis. We report in this article the case of a 7-year-old boy followed at the neuropsychiatric center Joseph Guislain of the Brothers of Charity of Lubumbashi in Congo (DRC) since 2016 for generalized tonic-clonic seizures, in whom the diagnosis of cerebral palsy on cyst of corpus callosum and in the right parietal lobe, as well as cardiopathy was posed during its consultation in September 2017. This case was published with parental consent.

Three million African patients need a neurosurgical consultation every year, but there are not enough neurosurgeons to meet this need. Efforts have been made to increase the neurosurgical capacity through the creation of training programs in Africa. Although these programs have been successful, there is still a long way to go. Aspiring African neurosurgeons (AANs) will become neurosurgeons in the future if they are given the resources and opportunities. The authors set out to understand the perceptions, needs, and difficulties faced by AANs. An e-survey containing 45 questions was created using Google Forms and distributed via social media. The survey was anonymous, and it was distributed from June 2, 2020, to June 16, 2020. Summary descriptive statistics and the Chi-Square test were calculated. The p-value was considered to be significant below .05. A total of 221 AANs aged 23.5 ± 3.3 years and from 22 African countries responded to the survey. Most were male (66.1%) and medical students (84.6%). Few had assisted a neurosurgical intervention in-person (24.9%), had a mentor (29.0%) or attended a journal club (10.3%). A small proportion was unwilling to train in their home country (19.5%) or a neighboring country (16.3%). The top three reasons for choosing neurosurgery were prestige, advice from a family member, and projected income. Also, respondents felt neurosurgery was expensive. AANs are passionate about neurosurgery but lack the information, guidance, or opportunities to fulfil their wish.

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality in all ages worldwide. Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD) accounting for 10%. There have been several reports of neurological complications associated with TOF. Although it is known, brain abscess (BA) is a serious complication in patients with uncorrected CHD mostly in the age of 4-7 years-old. We report a case of a 7 year old male who presented with a 3 month history of left sided body weakness and a 3 week history of a headache and fever. Patient was chronically unwell since birth where he would experience occasional episodes of exertional dyspnoea which was never investigated. Chest xray showed a globular-shaped heart. CT scan brain showed a 1,8 x 1,3 x 1,5 cm ring-enhancing lesion in the right parietal region with minimal perilesional vasogenic edema communicating with the body of the lateral ventricle, with enhancement of the ependymal lining of the ventricle; echocardiography revealed ventricular septal defect (VSD), overriding of aorta, obstruction to right ventricular outflow tract and hypertrophy of right ventricle consistent with a diagnosis of TOF. We elected to manage the patient conservatively on intravenous antibiotics, Patient improved significantly neurologically and was transferred to the cardiothoracic surgeons for further management of TOF.

Background Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is associated with an increased prevalence of some malignancies. However, some observational studies have revealed an ever-decreasing prevalence of HIV in glioma patients. The relationship between HIV and brain gliomas has not been well established. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in sub-Sahara Africa, a high HIV prevalence setting, to determine the prevalence of HIV among all glioma patients over a 2-year period. Results A markedly reduced prevalence of HIV was found in glioma patients (8.3%) in comparison to the general population (14.3%). The presumably "antiglioma effect" of HIV and/or its treatment resulted in a 42% decrease in glioma occurrence in HIV positive patients compared to HIV negative individuals. Age and sex-adjusted prevalence were also lower among glioma patients with the protective effect observed more in younger patients and female sex. Conclusion Our results corroborate the protective effect of HIV positivity vis-a -vis gliomas. This "antiglioma effect" could be attributed to either the HIV, its treatment, or both. Future studies focused on this "effect" may help unveil better preventative and possible therapeutic avenues for gliomas.

Brain metastases are associated with a poor prognosis. Depending on the patient’s age, functional status, extent of systemic disease, and number of metastases. We report a case of 22-year-old female who presented with 2 months history of headache and vomiting and 1 day history of not communicating, neck stiffness, and generalized body weakness. Patient has been unwell for 2 months after she had collapsed at school 2 months prior complaining of severe headache, she allegedly stroked one month prior with left sided weakness. No history of trauma and seizures but had history of falling and remaining unconscious for unspecified period of time. No history of chronic illness and no family history of malignancies. Brain CT scan and MRI documented multiple lobulated irregularly enhancing brain parenchymal mass lesions of variable sizes, patient was taken to theatre and burr hole for brain tumor biopsy was done and specimen taken for histology which confirmed metastatic carcinoma and the tumor immunoreacted negatively to TTF1 and positively to CK7. Treatment of brain metastasis has evolved over the years from WBRT only for most patients to multimodal therapy including surgical resection, if feasible, followed by Whole brain Radiotherapy (WBRT) and/or chemotherapy.

The Chiari malformations are a family of conditions characterized by developmental or, less commonly, acquired displacements of the cerebellum. The original 19th century description by Hans Chiari delineated 4 types, but only types 1 and 2 are more than just curiosities. In his initial description, Chiari classified the hindbrain malformations into type I, II and III and then latter added type IV malformation. Type IV is a very rare type. It is characterized by cerebellar hypoplasia or aplasia and tentorial hypoplasia. There is no hindbrain herniation in this type. We report a case of a 6 year old male patient who presented to us with a 6 year history of an occipitocervical mass and inability to stand and walk for one year and a 5 month history of headache and vomiting. CT scan of the brain showed a midline posterior fossa bone defect with a meningocele with active obstructive hydrocephalus and hypoplastic cerebellum without hindbrain herniation. A diagnosis of a posterior fossa congenital anomaly (Chiari 4) with obstructive hydrocephalus and occipito-cervical meningocele was made. Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt was inserted three days post admission. Patient was then electively taken to theatre five months later for repair of the occipitocervical meningocele.

A subdural hematoma (SDH) is usually traumatic in etiology. Non-traumatic instances of SDH are uncommon, and are rarely due to metastases involving the dura. We report a 68-year-old male patient with a one day history of, not communicating and not mobilizing and a 2 weeks history of generalized body weakness. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a left sided hypo-dense subdural collection. A diagnosis of left sided chronic subdural hematoma (SDH) was made. Burr hole drainage of the hematoma was performed. Intra- operatively, liquefied blood was drained and a thick dura with reddish material infiltrating the dura was noted. A specimen of the dura was submitted for histology and revealed metastatic carcinoma, confirmed at immunohistochemistry to be of prostatic origin. Conclusion: Metastatic disease should be considered when there is a chronic subdural hematoma with no history of trauma and an unusual dural appearance on imaging.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant condition affecting approximately 1 in 3000 live births. The manifestations of this condition are extremely variable, even within families, and genetic counseling is consequently difficult with regard to prognosis. Individuals with NF1 are acknowledged to be at increased risk of malignancy. Several studies have previously attempted to quantify this risk, but have involved relatively small study populations. Soft tissue tumors represent a heterogeneous group of mesenchymal and neural lesions. We report a case of giant scalp Fibrosarcoma of the scalp in patient with neurofibromatosis type I without intracranial extension, in a 35 year old female which was excised completely along with the involved overlying skin, and reconstruction was done to cover the defect using trapezius flap and split thickness skin graft from the right thigh. She is doing well after treatment and is in regular follow up while awaiting further management by the oncologists.