The Burden, Challenges, and Prospects of Hand Surgery Practice in South Eastern Nigeria

Author:

Imediegwu Kelechi U.1,Ibe Joy C.2,Onyebuchukwu Chiamaka Q.2,Abor Jude C.2,Umeji Ebube I.3,Asuquo Bassey B.2,Anya Jonah P.2,Okeke Kosisochukwu C.2,Solagbade Remi S.4,Ugwuanyi Uchechukwu D.2,Onah Ifeanyi I.3

Affiliation:

1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria

2. College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria

3. Department of Plastic Surgery, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria

4. Department of Surgery, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Background: Hand injuries sometimes cause significant loss of function with psychological and functional consequences. The national status on dedicated specialised hand surgery units, hand surgery fellowship programmes, and outcome of operative hand surgery cases is generally lacking. Aims: To determine the current state of hand surgery practice in south eastern Nigeria and identify the major challenges to its practice and proffer realistic solutions. Methods: This was a prospective and cross-sectional study conducted amongst accredited hospitals for plastic surgery training in south eastern Nigeria amongst plastic surgery senior residents. Data were collected using a well-structured online questionnaire validated by a panel of investigators created as a Google form. Data analysis was carried out using Statistical package for Social Sciences by IBM, version 22. Ethical approval was obtained from the health, research, and ethical committee of the University of Enugu Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. Results: There was a 70.59% response rate with 24 residents filling and submitting the questionnaire. Lack of fellowship training opportunities in hand surgery represents the most important challenge of hand surgery practice, followed by lack of appropriate facilities in government institutions in contrast to a lack of funding in private ones. Other major challenges include lack of adequate funding, lack of facilities, late presentation of cases, and lack of appropriate follow-up physiotherapy protocol. Availability of competent hand surgery specialists was significantly correlated with the frequency of hand surgery cases in the facilities (P = 0.000; χ2 = 20.400). Conclusion/Recommendation: The current state of hand surgery practice in south eastern Nigeria is not yet optimal. The creation of more hand fellowship trainings and courses bagged first place in recommended solutions by nearly half of the respondents. Provision of modern facilities, creation of dedicated hand surgical units, and better funding to the specialty were other suggestions.

Publisher

Medknow

Reference18 articles.

1. Causes and consequences of hand injuries;Trybus;Am J Surg,2006

2. Pattern of hand injuries in Osogbo, South-west Nigeria;Olaitan;J West Afr Coll Surg,2011

3. The burden of hand injuries at a tertiary hospital in sub-Saharan Africa;Makobore;Emerg Med Int,2015

4. Hand injuries in low- and middle-income countries: Systematic review of existing literature and call for greater attention;Siotos;Public Health,2018

5. International surgery: Causes of hand injuries in a developing country;Ihekire;Can J Surg,2010

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3