Five cases of Mooren's ulcer in young Nigerians seen over a 2-year period, in Lagos, healed after limbal conjunctivectomy. The maximum follow up in 2 cases was 2 years. Previous trauma or corneal foreign bodies as seen in four of our cases seem to suggest the precipitation of Mooren's ulcer by various ocular insults. We believe that collagenolytic activity of the conjunctiva plays a prominent role in the pathogenesis of the ulcer and is supported by this report in which our five cases healed after excision of the limbal conjunctiva. Helminthosis, found in four of our five patients with Mooren's ulcer in an endemic area, such as Nigeria may be an associated finding. The presence of lymphocytes and plasma cells in the histopathology of the excised tissue in one of our cases is suggestive of an autoimmune phenomenon in this disease.

Background:The availability of intraoperative fluoroscopy and improved access to varieties of spinal titanium implants has revived posterior spinal stabilization techniques with their distinct advantages. Our aim is to describe the profile of various spine pathologies requiring subaxial posterior spinal decompression, stabilization (using titanium implants), and arthrodesis, and to determine the rate of postoperative complications and factors affecting outcome.Materials and Methods:This is a prospective single institution study of consecutive adult patients seen during the study period. Data collected included the patients’ demographics, radiological findings, indication for surgery, surgical procedure, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative complications.Results:There were 26 patients (15 males and 11 females). Their ages ranged between 24 and 78 years (median = 42 years). The most common indications for surgery were spinal trauma and degenerative spine disease (24 patients). The region that was most commonly stabilized was the lumbar- 12 cases (46.2%). No patients experienced neural or vascular injury as a result of screw position; likewise no patient had screw loosening. There was a case each of superficial surgical site infection and transient cerebrospinal fluid leak but no case of implant failure was encountered. The outcome was significantly associated with the etiology (0.030) of the indication for surgery and preoperative power grade (0.000).Conclusion:Spinal trauma and degenerative spine disease are the two most common indications for posterior spinal decompression, stabilization and fusion in our center. It is associated with acceptable postoperative complication rate when done under fluoroscopic guidance. Outcome is related more to the preoperative neurological deficit and etiology of the indication for surgical stabilization.

One lung ventilation is an integral component of modern anesthetic practice. It can be safely practiced in Nigeria with appropriate equipment and expertise. The use of DLT for OLV to enhance thoracic anesthetic practice should be encouraged in other Nigerian institutions.

VATS is being performed in our institution with successful outcomes. The use of VATS in Nigeria is encouraged. The relatively high cost of VATS is, however, a major limitation to more widespread use.

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