title: The pattern of distribution of encephalocele in University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital--a three year experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Encephalocele is a congenital anomaly that results from failure of complete neural tube closure during foetal development. It is a known cause of mortality and morbidity in infants. This study was carried out to highlight its distribution pattern in University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital over a three-year-period.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study of children with encephalocele admitted from January 2007 to December 2009. The following information were obtained from their medical records: sex, age at diagnosis, distribution pattern, place of origin, detailed antenatal history, maternal occupation/level of education, family history, associated anomalies and outcome of surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  17 cases (10 females and 7 males) were seen over this period. 12 presented as frontal encephalocele while 5 were occipital. Their ages at diagnosis were: prenatal (determinded by abdominal ultrasound) 5, 0-6 months 11, and 7-12 months 1. 9 of 17 mothers were unbooked. Pregnancy was uneventful in all cases. None had family history of encephalocele. 5 had multiple anomalies while 12 had only encephalocele. 10 patients had surgery, of which 9 were successful. 1 died in the immediate postoperative period. 7 patients did not have surgery. Among these, 3 died before surgery while the parents of 4 children refused operation. 10 mothers had primary education, 5 secondary, while 2 had attained tertiary education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Encephalocele may be frontal or occipital. The distribution pattern of our cases was in favour of frontal location, with slight female preponderance.
authors: Neurosurgical Unit, Department of Surgery University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
authors: C E
authors: CE
authors: Amadi
authors: P O
authors: PO
authors: Eghwrudjakpor
mesh_terms: D004522:Educational Status; D004677:Encephalocele / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies