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Low- and middle-income countries experience numerous challenges in the provision of neurosurgical care. However, limited information exists on the neurosurgical workforce and the constraints under which care is delivered in Ghana, West Africa.A 19-item survey assessing neurosurgical workforce, infrastructure, and education was administered to Ghanaian consultant neurosurgeons and neurosurgeon trainees between November 8, 2021, and January 20, 2022. The data were analyzed using summary descriptions, and qualitative data were categorized into themes.There were 25 consultant neurosurgeons and 8 neurosurgical trainees (from 2 training centers) identified at 11 hospitals in Ghana totaling a workforce density of 1 neurosurgeon per 1,240,000. Most neurosurgical centers were located in Accra, the capital city. Almost half of the population did not have access to a hospital with a neurosurgeon in their region. Of hospitals, 82% had in-house computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging scanners. In the operating room, most neurosurgeons had access to a high-speed drill (91%) but lacked microscopes and endoscopic sets (only 64% and 36% had these tools, respectively). There were no neurointensivists or neurological intensive care units in the entire country, and there was a paucity of neurovascular surgeries and functional neurosurgical procedures.The provision of neurosurgical care in Ghana has come a long way since the 1960s. However, the neurosurgical community continues to face significant challenges. Alleviating these barriers to care will call for systems-level changes that allow for the prioritization of neurosurgical care within the Ghanaian health care system.

Carotid-cavernous fistula is an abnormal communication between the carotid artery and the cavernous sinus. The fistula is classified based on its etiology, haemodynamic and anatomical configuration. The most common type is the direct high flow fistula resulting from trauma. Indirect fistula which is less common results from underlying conditions such as hypertension, collagen vascular diseases, pregnancy amongst others. It is in regards with this uncommon occurrence of indirect fistula that we report a case of forty years old woman who presented with a left protruding eyeball and headache a month after delivery and was diagnosed with spontaneous type D indirect carotid cavernous fistula with rapidly progressing symptoms. She was referred abroad for interventional radiological services due to unavailability of such services in our facility and country.

Lipoma arborescens is a benign intra-articular tumor characterized by joint effusions, pain and reduced range of motion. It is rare in adults and children. We present a case of Lipoma arborescens in a 16 year old male. The work up involved plain radiographs, MRI, incisional biopsy and laboratory analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate of preventable trauma deaths in an African hospital; identify the potential effect of improvements in trauma care over the past decade; and identify deficiencies in care that still need to be addressed. METHODS: A multidisciplinary panel assessed pre-hospital, hospital, and postmortem data on 89 consecutive in-hospital trauma deaths over 5-months in 2017 at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The panel judged the preventability of each death. For definitely and potentially preventable deaths, the panel identified deficiencies in care. RESULTS: Thirteen percent (13%) of trauma deaths were definitely preventable, 47% potentially preventable, and 39% non-preventable. In comparison to a panel review in 2007, there was no change in total preventable deaths, but there had been a modest decrease in definitely preventable deaths (25% in 2007 to 13% in 2017, p=0.07) There was a notable change in the pattern of deficiency (p=0.001) with decreases in pre-hospital delay (19% of all trauma deaths in 2007 to 3% in 2017) and inadequate resuscitation (17% to 8%), but an increase in delay in treatment at the hospital (23% to 40%). CONCLUSIONS: Over the past decade, there have been improvements in pre-hospital transport and in-hospital resuscitation. However, the preventable death rate remains unacceptably high and there are still deficiencies to address. This study also demonstrates that preventable death panel reviews are a feasible method of trauma quality improvement in the low- and middle-income country setting.