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Mkpe Abbey,1 Olufemi A Oloyede,2 Goddy Bassey,1 Benjamin M Kejeh,3 Barbara E Otaigbe,4 Peace I Opara,4 Austa U Eneh,4 Chris I Akani1 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, 3Department of Surgery, 4Department of Paediatrics, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Objective: To ascertain the prevalence and pattern of congenital abnormalities that are peculiar to the Niger Delta area of Nigeria. Methods: This is a descriptive retrospective cross-sectional study. It involved data from the labor ward and neonatal birth registers of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital on the total number of births and the babies that were delivered with major birth defects between August 2011 and December 2014. We also conducted a statistical comparison of the prevalence of congenital abnormalities in the Niger Delta with that in other regions of Nigeria and the developed world of Europe. Results: Out of the 7,670 deliveries that occurred, 159 maternities had babies with major birth defects giving a prevalence of 20.73 cases per 1,000 live births. This figure is far more than that which was obtained in other regions of Nigeria –4.15:cases per 1,000 live births in the South East (P

Background: Orofacial clefts are the most common malformations of the head and neck, with a worldwide prevalence of 1 in 700 births. They are commonly divided into CL(P) and CP based on anatomic, genetic, and embryologic findings. A Nigerian craniofacial anomalies study (NigeriaCRAN) was set up in 2006 to investigate the role of gene-environment interaction in the origin of orofacial clefts in Nigeria., Subjects and Methods: DNA isolated from saliva from Nigerian probands was used for genotype association studies and direct sequencing of cleft candidate genes: MSX1 , IRF6 , FOXE1, FGFR1 , FGFR2 , BMP4 , MAFB, ABCA4 , PAX7, and VAX1 , and the chromosome 8q region., Results: A missense mutation A34G in MSX1 was observed in nine cases and four HapMap controls. No other apparent causative variations were identified. Deviation from Hardy Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was observed in these cases (p = .00002). A significant difference was noted between the affected side for unilateral CL (p = .03) and bilateral clefts and between clefts on either side (p = .02). A significant gender difference was also observed for CP (p = .008)., Conclusions: Replication of a mutation previously implicated in other populations suggests a role for the MSX1 A34G variant in the development of CL(P).

The pattern of congenital cleft lip and/or palate deformities in the Rivers State of Nigeria is being presented. Thirty nine patients seen over four years were retrospectively studied. Similar to the other published African series but unlike the Caucasian series, isolated cleft of the lip was the predominant lesion seen in this study (54%). In contrast, however, to the same African Series the isolated cleft of the palate was only seen in girls (15%). The unusual cleft deformities are highlighted while the significance of associated congenital malformations is examined.

The pattern of burn injuries in Port Harcourt, Nigeria is presented for the first time. Ninety-two patients were studied and 43 (46.74 per cent) of them were children in the 0-5 years age range. Thirty-seven of the children in this group suffered from scalds and six from flame burns. Petrol fire was the commonest cause of flame burns. The overall mortality was 26.09 per cent and the majority of deaths occurred in burns covering over 50 per cent of the total body surface area. Improved parental supervision of children, in particular toddlers, a more reliable public power supply system, a ban on carrying petrol in open containers in the streets and public enlightenment campaigns are advocated by the authors as preventive measures.

Thirty-nine children with congenital cleft deformities seen at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital over a four-year period (1984-87) were studied. The majority (69%) of the children came from PHALGA, OTELGA and ALGA, the areas of the state with a high concentration of oil wells, gas flares and a petroleum refinery. There is yet no proof that there is a cause and effect relationship between the deformities and the industrial pollution but attention has been drawn to the association, which may be real or apparent. Further prospective studies are indicated. Apart from the possible role of environmental pollution, other epidemiological factors discussed include parental age, socioeconomic class of the families and the significance of the absence of positive family history of cleft deformities in all the cases studied.