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Journal Article
|Case Report/Series

Outcomes at 18 mo of 37 noma (cancrum oris) cases surgically treated at the Noma Children's Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria

Farley ES, Amirtharajah M, Winters RD, Taiwo AO, Oyemakinde MJ, Fotso A, Torhee LA, Mehta UC, Bil K, Lenglet AD
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Abstract
BACKGROUND
Noma is a rapidly progressing infection of the oral cavity frequently resulting in severe facial disfigurement. We present a case series of noma patients surgically treated in northwest Nigeria.

METHODS
A retrospective analysis of routinely collected data (demographics, diagnosis and surgical procedures undergone) and in-person follow-up assessments (anthropometry, mouth opening and quality of life measurements) were conducted with patients who had surgery >6 mo prior to data collection.

RESULTS
Of the 37 patients included, 21 (56.8%) were male and 22 (62.9%) were aged >6 y. The median number of months between last surgery and follow-up was 18 (IQR 13, 25) mo. At admission, the most severely affected anatomical area was the outer cheek (n = 9; 36.0% of patients had lost between 26% and 50%). The most frequent surgical procedures were the deltopectoral flap (n = 16; 43.2%) and trismus release (n = 12; 32.4%). For the eight trismus-release patients where mouth opening was documented at admission, all had a mouth opening of 0–20 mm at follow-up. All patients reported that the surgery had improved their quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS
Following their last surgical intervention, noma patients do experience some improvements in their quality of life, but debilitating long-term sequelae persist.

Countries

Nigeria

Subject Area

neglected tropical diseasessurgery & trauma carenoma

Collections

Noma

Languages

English
DOI
10.1093/trstmh/traa061
Published Date
12 Aug 2020
PubMed ID
32785671
Journal
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume | Issue | Pages
Volume 114, Issue 11, Pages 812-819
Issue Date
2020-08-12
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Outcomes at 18 mo of 37 noma (cancrum oris) cases surgically treated at the Noma Children's Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria | Journal Article / Case Report/Series | MSF Science Portal