Acute flaccid paralysis: a five–year review of cases managed by physiotherapy at the University College Hospital, Ibadan

A 5-year (1999-2004) review of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases managed at the physiotherapy clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan Nigeria was carried out. Collection of data involved retrieving the records of all patients seen at the physiotherapy clinic during the study period, from which the paediatric cases were sorted out. The treatment records cards of patients with acute flaccid paralysis were identified and reviewed. Information on age, gender, immunization history, and specific physician diagnosis and discharge practice were collated. A total of 757 paediatric cases reviewed out of which 132 (17.4 %) were AFP case, with mean age of 44.31+ 33.03 months and a 1.2:1.0 male: female ratio. Sciatic nerve palsy accounted for majority (72.0 %) of the AFP; only 43.2 % of the patients had completed immunization before the onset; majority of the cases (78.8 %) were referred to physiotherapy within 6 months of onset and the discharge pattern revealed that only 9.8 % of the patients were formally discharged. With injection palsy accounting for majority of the AFP cases, the need for caution in administration of intramuscular injections at the buttocks of children with febrile illnesses is suggested. Importance of adequate documentation of clinical information by clinicians is also emphasised.