Background: The occurrence of burnout amongst African health professionals has been widely anticipated, but there is a dearth of published data, especially amongst doctors. Burnout has been reported to be as high as 53% amongst doctors in the United States. If not detected, it can result in prescription errors, work-related accidents, substance abuse and depression.Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of burnout and its associated factors amongst a sample of physicians in Ghana.Setting: This study was conducted in Kumasi amongst physicians attending a conference organised by the West African College of Physicians, Ghana Chapter.Method: A cross-sectional study. Of the 90 physicians who registered for the conference, 60 responded to a self-administered Maslach Burnout Inventory questionnaire. Data were analysed descriptively and inferentially using STATA® version 14.Results: Approximately 52% of respondents had been in medical practice for 10–19 years (mean 15.4 years). All the major medical specialties were represented. Internal Medicine had the highest number of participants (48.3%). With respect to the components of burnout, 5.5% of respondents experienced depersonalisation, 7.8% had a lack of personal achievement and 10.8% experienced emotional exhaustion. The association between burnout and age, sex, years of practice and clinical specialty was not found to be statistically significant.Conclusion: This pilot study has shown burnout to be common amongst physicians in Ghana. It is recommended that further studies are conducted, involving a larger cross-section of doctors in various parts of Africa.

Study Design: Retrospective review of consecutive series. Objectives: This study sought to assess the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of pulmonary complication following complex spine deformity surgery in a low-resourced setting in West Africa. Methods: Data of 276 complex spine deformity patients aged 3 to 25 years who were treated consecutively was retrospectively reviewed. Patients were categorized into 2 groups during data analysis based on pulmonary complication status: group 1: yes versus group 2: no. Comparative descriptive and inferential analysis were performed to compare the 2 groups. Results: The incidence of pulmonary complication was 17/276 (6.1%) in group 1. A total of 259 patients had no events (group 2). There were 8 males and 9 females in group 1 versus 100 males and 159 females in group 2. Body mass index was similar in both groups (17.2 vs 18.4 kg/m2, P = .15). Average values (group 1 vs group 2, respectively) were as follows: preoperative sagittal Cobb angle (90.6° vs 88.7°, P = .87.), coronal Cobb angle (95° vs 88.5°, P = .43), preoperative forced vital capacity (45.3% vs 62.0%, P = .02), preoperative FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second) (41.9% vs 63.1%, P < .001). Estimated blood loss, operating room time, and surgery levels were similar in both groups. Thoracoplasty and spinal osteotomies were performed at similar rates in both groups, except for Smith-Peterson osteotomy. Multivariate logistic regression showed that every unit increase in preoperative FEV1 (%) decreases the odds of pulmonary complication by 9% (OR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.84-0.98, P = .013). Conclusion: The observed 6.1% incidence of pulmonary complications is comparable to reported series. Preoperative FEV1 was an independent predictor of pulmonary complications. The observed case fatality rate following pulmonary complications (17%) highlights the complexity of cases in underserved regions and the need for thorough preoperative evaluation to identify high-risk patients.

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Study Design: Retrospective review of consecutive series. Objective: The study sought to assess the effect of prolonged pre-operative halo gravity traction (HGT) on the c-spine radiographs Methods: Data of 37 pediatric and adult patients who underwent ≥ 12wks pre-op HGT prior to definitive spine surgery from 2013-2015 at a single site in West Africa was reviewed. Radiographic assessment of the c-spine including ADI, SVA and C2-C7 Lordosis were done at pre HGT and at 4 weekly intervals. Paired T-Test was performed to evaluate changes in these parameters during HGT. Results: 37pts, 18/19 (F/M). Average age 18.2yrs. Diagnoses: 22 idiopathic, 6 congenital, 3 Post TB, 2 NM and 4 NF. Average duration of HGT: 125 days. Baseline coronal Cobb:130 deg, corrected 30% in HGT; baseline sagittal Cobb:146 deg, corrected 32% post HGT. Baseline ADI (3.17 ± 0.63 mm) did not change at 4wks ( P > 0.05) but reduced at 8wks (2.80 ± 0.56 mm) and 12wks (2.67 ± 0.51 mm) post HGT ( P < 0.05). Baseline HGT SVA (20.7 ± 14.98 mm) significantly improved at 4wks (11.55 ± 10.26 mm), 8wks (7.54 ± 6.78 mm) and 12wks (8.88 ± 4.5 mm) ( P < 0.05). Baseline C2-C7 lordosis (43 ± 20.1 deg) reduced at 4wks (26 ± 16.37 deg), 8wks (17.8 ± 14.77 deg) and 12wks (16.7 ± 11.33 deg) post HGT ( P < 0.05). There was no incidence of atlanto-axial instability on flexion extension radiographs at any interval. Conclusion: Prolonged HGT, while providing partial correction of severe spine deformities, also appeared to have no adverse effect on atlanto-axial stability or cervical alignment. Therefore, HGT can be safely applied for several weeks in the preoperative management of severe spine deformities in pediatric/adult patients.

Background Pulmonary complications are important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients following spinal surgeries. There is paucity of literature on pulmonary complications following complex spine deformity surgery in underserved regions. This study sought to assess the incidence and risk factors of pulmonary complication following complex spine deformity surgery Methods Data of 276 complex spine deformity patients aged 3-25yrs who were consecutively treated at a single site were retrospectively reviewed. Data was analyzed using Stata 14 software. Patients were labelled into two groups: Grp 1: patients with pulmonary complications(N=17) vs Grp 2: patients with no pulmonary complications (N=259). Comparative analysis for risk factors included independent t-test and chi square test for independence. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was also performed. Results The incidence proportion of pulmonary complication was 17/276 (6.1%) (Grp 1) whiles 259 pts had no pulmonary events (Grp 2). There were 8M/9F for Grp 1 vs 100M/159F Grp 2, p=0.48. BMI was similar in both groups (17.2 vs 18.4km -2 , p=0.15). Average pre-op sagittal cobb (90.6 vs 88.7deg, p=0.87.), coronal cobb (95 vs 88.5deg, p=0.43), Pre-Op FVC (45.3 vs 62.0%, p=0.02), Pre-Op FEV1 (41.9% vs 63.1, p<0.001), Grp 1 vs Grp 2, respectively. EBL, OR time and Surgery Levels were similar in both Grps. Thoracoplasty was performed in 41.18% vs 21.57%, p=0.06, SPO 47.06% vs 42.31%, p=0.04 and VCR 5.88% vs 20.31%, p=0.145, Grp 1 vs Grp 2, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression showed that every unit increase in pre-Op FVC (%) decreases the odds of pulmonary complication by 5% (OR=0.95, 95% CI 0.90 to 0.99, p=0.045). Conclusion The observed 6.1% incidence of pulmonary complications is comparable to reported series. Only pre-Op FVC was an independent predictor of pulmonary complications. The observed case fatality rate (17%) following pulmonary complications highlights the need for thorough preoperative evaluation to identify high risk patients. Key words: Complex spine deformity; Pulmonary complications; late presentation; Forced Vital Capacity; Halo Gravity Traction; FVC; pediatric deformity; scoliosis; Pulmonary function tests; PFT; complications; Preoperative management.