Comparative Studies of Spinal Celes in Switzerland, Jamaica, and Nigeria, and Possible Relationship with Environmental Pollution

Abstract

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 2008,17 spinal celes (including 2 meningoceles) were routinely repaired in Imo and Ebonyi States of Nigeria, and 5 in Jamaica,the West Indies; none in Basel, 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, and all meningomyeloceles were ulcerated. All celes were midline. The meningoceles 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 remained normal. 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 elements(environmental pollution, hazardous waste sites, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, water disinfection 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..

Niger Med J. Vol. 50, No. 4, Oct.–Dec., 2009: 84–86

Key words: comparative studies, spinal celes