Gabriel F., 1

Gabriel Friday is 2months old, he is the 7th child of his parents. His father is a roadside mechanic that repair cars while his mother is a house wife. Gabriel was born about a month before the due date and the delivery took place at home. Upon delivery, he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus which was diagnosed when they took him to General Hospital Kachia, then they were referred to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital who then referred them to Epsilon. Upon presentation at our hospital, and after further clinical evaluation, he was diagnosed with lumbosacral myelomeningocele associated with hydrocephalus, congenital hip dislocation, and bilateral clubfoot deformities, consistent with the spina bifida with Chiari II malformation spectrum.

Gabriel Friday, a 2-year-old boy, was born prematurely at home about one month before his due date and was later diagnosed with hydrocephalus at General Hospital Kachia. He was referred first to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital and subsequently to our facility for specialist care. Upon evaluation, Gabriel was diagnosed with lumbosacral myelomeningocele associated with hydrocephalus, along with congenital hip dislocation and bilateral clubfoot deformities, consistent with spina bifida and Chiari II malformation spectrum. He was admitted on 23rd September and stayed for a total of 15 days, and on the second day of admission, we performed surgical repair of the myelomeningocele along with ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion to manage the hydrocephalus. He received strong antibiotics postoperatively to prevent infection. Gabriel recovered steadily during his stay and was discharged home in stable condition. His parents, who live very far from Kaduna, were given a two-weekly follow-up appointment for ongoing monitoring, physiotherapy, and management of associated deformities. With continued care, we are optimistic about his long-term developmental progress.

The doctor believes that with early intervention and proper treatment, Gabriel's prognosis is favorable in terms of survival and quality of life. However, he is at risk of long-term complications such as motor weakness, gait abnormalities, and recurrent urinary tract infections. The doctor emphasizes the importance of parental counseling and long-term follow-up to optimize outcomes and promote functional independence.