Background:Hip fracture has been associated with various risk factors, including osteoporosis, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, visual impairment, aging, sex, rural/urban inhabitation, race and climatic variations. Mechanisms of hip fractures in many parts of the world have been documented, and include road traffic accident (RTA), gunshot injury, fall from heights and many others. There is paucity of such documentation in Owerri, Nigeria.Aim:This study was designed to investigate the mechanism of hip fractures in Owerri, Nigeria, and to determine its prevailing factors.Materials and Methods:The study was conducted in hospitals located in Owerri, Nigeria. Cases of hip fracture were identified from the medical register while data were sourced from the medical record department for hip fractures that occurred between 1st January 2002 and 31st December 2008 for patients resident in Owerri and aged between 10 years and above.Results:The study uncovered a total of 105 cases of hip fractures over the study period in 65% (n = 68) males and 35% (n = 37) females. Proportion of hip fractures as a result of fragility fracture mechanisms was significantly higher in females than in the males (P < 0.001), while the reverse was the case for RTA mechanisms. In the same vein, proportion of hip fractures as a result of moderate trauma mechanisms was significantly higher in the elderly than in the young patients (P < 0.001), while the reverse was the case for RTA mechanisms.Conclusion:Mechanism of hip fractures in Owerri, Nigeria, can be associated with gender and age. RTA had the largest single contributory mechanism of hip fractures in Owerri. Therefore, public health campaigns and promotions should be created to reduce the influence of RTA on hip fracture among this population. Among the elderly population, hip fracture was mostly sustained from fragility trauma mechanisms, suggesting that osteoporosis is a major contributory factor of hip fracture among this population.

Une bande de 160 coquelets Harco âgés de six semaines ont été inoculés par voie intramusculaire avec un isolat nigérian local de virus vélogénique de la maladie de Newcastle (VMN) obtenu à partir d'une pintade morte. Des signes cliniques de la maladie, principalement la dépression, des diarrhées verdâtres, la paralysie, l'opisthotonos et le torticolis, ont pu être observés sur les volailles trois jours après l'inoculation. Le taux de morbidité a été de 100 p. 100 alors que celui de mortalité a été de 92 p. 100. Au dix-huitième jour après l'inoculation, seul le torticolis a été encore présent chez certaines volailles. Les lésions macroscopiques principales ont été les hémorragies dans les muqueuses proventriculaires, des ulcères hémorragiques des intestins et une atrophie transitoire des organes lymphoïdes. Des coupes d'organes ont révélé des nécroses et des déplétions lymphocytaires des organes lymphoïdes, une endothéliose, une gliose et des manchons périvasculaires du cerveau et du cervelet. Ces observations ont indiqué que l'isolat provenait d'une souche vélogénique viscérotropique. Les auteurs proposent de considérer les ulcères hémorragiques dans les intestins comme des éléments diagnostiques du VMN vélogénique viscérotropique en l'absence de preuve épizootiologique de virus grippal aviaire.

The fetal parameters used in this study were consistently smaller than reported values from European studies up to the 34th week of gestation after which a catch-up growth till the 40 weeks was observed. Fetal parameters observed in this study were larger than most of the reported Asian values.

Background: Proximal femoral geometry(PFG) plays a role in the biomechanics of the hip. During total hip replacement detailed efforts are made to restore this biomechanics in other to ensure patients satisfaction and implant survival. There are variations in these parameters. Ethnicity is one of the most influential factors accounting for these variations. Aim: To determine the values of the parameters of the proximal femoral geometry among the ethnic Igbos of the South Eastern Nigeria, determine any correlation between these parameters, and compare these values with known populations as well as discuss the clinical application in total hip replacement and other hip surgeries. Materials and Method: Seven hundred and sixteen (716) femoral bones taken from the osteology unit of department of anatomy of University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC) were screened and proximal femoral parameters measured using Vernier calipers. Results: There were 356 right and 360 left femoral bones with the following values: Femoral Neck Anteversion Angle (FNAVA): M=19.04°, SD=2.075°, Proximal Femoral Length(PFL): M=73.24mm, SD=7.622, Femoral Head Vertical Diameter(FHVD):M= 44.64mm, SD=3.134, Femoral Head Transverse Diameter(FHTD),M=44.55mm, SD=3.379mm, Femoral Head Diameter(FHD),M=44.60mm, SD=3.119mm, Femoral Neck Anterior Length(FNAL), M=31.86mm, SD=5.383mm, Femoral Posterior Neck Length(FPNL):M=22.23mm, SD=3.520mm, Femoral Neck Diameter (FND), M=32.71mm, SD= 3.315mm, Proximal Femoral Width Head to Side (PFWHS), M=89mm.80,SD= 10.331mm, Proximal Femoral Width Side to Side (PFWSS), M=31.47mm, SD=2.812mm, Femoral Neck Shaft Angle(FNSA), M=132.15°, 7.305°. Conclusion: The parameters of the proximal femoral geometry of the ethnic Igbos of the South East of Nigeria, differed from other populations and exhibited laterality.

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