Search

The nervous system (NS) in its complexity still has some surprises in store for us. The developmental disorder of the NS during the embryonic period is at the origin of malformations of cortical development (CDM) which represent a major cause of mental and motor handicaps as well as severe epilepsy. Many anomalies of the latter (SN) are not yet described and will continue to be described over time given the significant advances in science observed in recent years. We describe here a syndrome called Kiza-Ntenga syndrome which would be strongly of embryonic origin and which is made of right cerebral hemiatrophy, facial asymmetry with prominence of the face ipsilaterally to the cerebral hemiatrophy, right hemierythroderma, secondarily generalized focal seizures, slight regression in speech and walking. And so, Kiza designates the name of the patient and Ntenga which designates the name of the author who described him.

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.

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.

Only 1% to 5% of HIV patients who develop a direct complications following. HIV infection can result in stroke via several mechanisms, including opportunistic infection, vasculopathy, cardioembolism, and coagulopathy. It is a rare association, here we report the case of a woman of 69 years immunocompromised who Stroke diagnosed without another etiology found despite an etiologic assessment of the most common causes in our context. The patient had received treatment with an overall favorable evolution. Before a stroke recurrent of unknown etiology should think of HIV as this will allow appropriate treatment. The mechanism can be related with syphilis (Vasculitis) or by direct action of the virus on the central nervous system.

The migraine is a chronic neurological disease that affects 10 to 12% of the population, with a clear preponderance females and this from puberty. The women report a longer attack duration. Presence and severity of associated symptoms, such as photophobia, phonophobia, nausea, vomiting, and cutaneous allodynia are more prevalent in women. Some clinical forms are well described as catamenial migraine. Several comorbidities have been described in migraine women. Among these diseases associated with migraine: vascular diseases, asthma, allergies, epilepsy, restless legs syndrome, and various chronic pain syndromes and psychiatric disorders. Treatment of migraine in women raises the difficulty of managing seizures and during pregnancy and the period of menstruation. The therapeutic difference mainly concerns menstrual migraine. In women with migraine, it is therefore recommended to be particularly attentive to comorbidities, the presence of which significantly increases the risk of arterial vascular events. Migraine is very common with a particular impact on the quality of life of women. These various specificities and their evolution over time must lead to continuous training of general practitioners, other specialists in women's health including gynecologists in order to reduce the morbidity of the disease by better prevention of crises through the harmonization of research by scientific societies from different continents.

Introduction L’epilepsie est une pathologie qui traverse les âges, qui reste cependant sujette a des plusieurs interrogations et ombres malgre le progres de la science. La particularite de survenir sur un cerveau en developpement est a l’origine des plusieurs consequences dont celles cognitivo-comportementales, pouvant impacter la scolarisation de l’enfant qui en souffre. Observation Il s’agit d’une etude transversale prospective, analytique sur 4 mois (septembre 2017–decembre 2017) incluant les cas des enfants vivant avec epilepsie qui s’etaient presentes a la consultation pendant la periode d’etude. Cette etude a ete realisee au centre neuropsychiatrique Docteur Joseph Ghislain Freres de la charite de Lubumbashi. RDC avec comme objectif d’analyser l’impact de l’epilepsie sur la scolarisation des enfants suivis pour epilepsie au CNPJG, de decrire les caracteristiques sociodemographiques, cliniques, paracliniques et therapeutiques chez les enfants vivant avec epilepsie afin d’en degager les determinants de la scolarisation ainsi que le taux de scolarisation chez ces derniers. Nous avons collige 25 patients avec un taux de scolarisation de 48,0 % des enfants vivant avec epilepsie a Lubumbashi. En dehors des troubles cognitifs bien connus dans les litteratures, les crises repetees etaient les determinants de la non scolarisation des enfants vivant avec epilepsie (92,3 % de cas ; p-value = 0,00). L’arrivee a la consultation apres le debut de la maladie etait tardive, 66,7 % des enfants scolarises et 46,2 % de ceux non scolarises avaient consulte au moins une annee apres le debut de la maladie. Les antecedents d’epilepsie en famille, le type de crise epileptique et le sexe n’avaient pas impacte la scolarisation des enfants vivant avec epilepsie. L’âge moyen des enfants vivant avec epilepsie etait de 9,6 ± 3,9 ans et un âge moyen de debut de crise qui etait de 5,8 ± 3,0 ans chez les enfants scolarises, et de 3,3 ± 3,6 ans chez les non scolarises. Discussion et Conclusion Le taux de scolarisation des enfants vivant avec l’epilepsie est encore inferieur a la moyenne a Lubumbashi, RD Congo suite aux crises repetees. Il faut alors mettre en place un plan strategique pour renverser la situation.

Introduction L’Hyperlipidemie est l’un des 10 facteurs de risque cardiovasculaire qui favorisent la survenue des Accidents Cerebraux Vasculaires. Il est majore lors qu’il est associe a l’Hypertension Arterielle ou du Diabete. Objectifs Notre but fut d’apprecier le profil lipidique des malades qui ont ete hospitalises pour Accident Cerebral Vasculaire dans le Service de Neurologie de l’Hopital Fann a Dakar au Senegal. Patients et methodes Notre travail fut porte sur les 210 dossiers de malades victimes d’Accident Cerebral Vasculaire de ce service de la periode de l’annee 2014. L’etude avait consiste a l’analyse des resultats du bilan lipidique complet (Cholesterols Total ; HDL ; LDL et Triglycerides exprimes en g/l) qui avait ete realise chez ces malades. L’Hypertension arterielle et le Diabete de premiere decouverte ou ancienne des malades ont ete consideres comme cofacteurs de risque majeurs vasculaires associes. Resultats Tableau 1. Discussion Les Hyperlipidemies pures et mixtes etaient une realite preoccupante dans cette cohorte. Elles ont ete probablement des snipers silencieux ayant cible les vaisseaux sanguins des organes nobles de ces malades. Cette realite potentiellement dangereuse etait malheureusement meconnue de la population non medicale. Ces risques encourus sont de plus en plus grands du fait des habitudes alimentaires grasses et mal equilibrees. Conclusion Pour reduire significativement ce risque et augmenter la chance de survie des malades exposes, il faudrait leurs assurer la correction efficace et efficiente de tous les facteurs de risque considere.

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.

Dementia is a serious disease due to its morbidity and mortality. The etiology is dominated by Alzheimer's disease. However, there are dementia syndromes related to treatable and potentially curable cause. It’s rarely reported in clinical practice in our context. We report a case of dementia associated with lymphoblastic acute leukemia complicated by lymphocytic meningitis. F. ND aged 66, widow, unschooled and unemployed was hospitalized for gait disturbance and progressive appearance of memory disorders. On physical examination, there was a dementia syndrome, bilateral pyramidal syndrome. The rest of the clinical examination associated with additional tests (thoraco-abdominal-pelvic CT scan, lumbar puncture, and myelogram) was in favor of lymphocytic meningitis and acute lymphocytic leukemia. Dementia is a disease in which the search for the cause is crucial for considering an etiological support. Blood diseases such as LAL are treatable causes. The clinic provides a guidance element of research. Also, multidisciplinary care is necessary in these kinds of patients for a better development. This scientific cooperation must be done with, hematologists, internal medicine specialists and other colleagues.

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.

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.