Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in a Nigerian Sub-urban Centre

Objective: Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a surgical sub specialty whose scope is widening by the day. However, the practice has been mostly urban with centres usually in tertiary health institutions. This study was carried out to review the scope of work in a semi urban centre providing service for an entire south western state and environ in Nigeria, and to highlight limitations. Materials/Method: This is a retrospective study conducted at the Oral – Dental Health Centre, Akure, Ondo state, Nigeria covering the period 2000 – 2004. Data including age, sex, diagnosis and treatment were obtained from the clinic record books, theatre book and patients record files. Results are presented in simple mean and percentages Results: A total of 151 cases were seen within the study period. There were 90 males and 61 females with a male to female ratio of 3:2. The age range was between 3 days and 65 years and a mean of 38.5. The peak age of patients were in the second and third decades of life (n=65, 43%). The cases seen were classified into 6 broad groups namely Orofacial tumours (n=41, 27.2%), Cysts (n=14, 0.09%), Orofacial trauma (n=40, 26.5%), Salivary glands (n=7, 4.6%), Temporomandibular joint diseases (n=11, 7.3%), Congenital malformation (n=10, 6.6%) and Others (n=27, 35.8%). Out of 151 cases seen, only 84 (55.6 %) received one form of treatment or the other, the remaining were either referred to other centers or failed to attend after initial consultation and assessment. Conclusion: A wide variety of cases were seen but socioeconomic, human resource and infrastructural problems limited the scope of practice.