Doctor Department of Neurosurgery, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana
Introduction: In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on studying neurosurgical diseases and access to care in LMICs. This study aimed to assess the spectrum of pediatric neurosurgical disorders seen in the out-patient department in a tertiary institute in Ghana
Methods: In this retrospective OPD-based study, pediatric patients with neurosurgical diagnoses between 2017 to 2023 were reviewed to characterize sociodemographics and spectrum of disorders. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize the data.
Results: A total of 2,205 OPD records were reviewed, and after excluding 1,369 records, 836 patients were included in the study. Males represented most cases 50.3% (421/836). The median age was 2.0 years (0.4 - 8.9 years). Congenital anomalies were the most common neurosurgical disorders, accounting for 59.1% (494/836) of cases. Spine disorders/deformities (10.3%), CNS tumors (10.2%), and neurotrauma (10.2%) were also prevalent. Among congenital anomalies, hydrocephalus was most common, representing 69.3% (343/495) of congenital cases and 41.0% (343/836) of all cases. Other congenital conditions included spina bifida (11.9%) and encephalocele (5.7%). Scoliosis was the most frequent spine disorder, accounting for 61.6% (53/86) of spine cases, followed by Potts disease (18.6%). Most patients (68.2%) were from the Greater Accra Region, with others primarily from southern Ghana.
Conclusion : Our institute has a significant pediatric neurosurgical caseload primarily consisting of congenital infections. The results suggest specific disease priorities for the pediatric population that we care for and serves as a guide for future clinical and humanitarian efforts.
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